Council defers tighter licensing for Uber drivers

Halifax Regional Council will take more time to consider a bylaw that would update the licensing of drivers for rideshare companies like Uber or Lyft to be the same as taxi and limo drivers.

The bylaw proposal is to create a specific driver’s licence required for all vehicles for hire in the city. Drivers with transportation network companies (TNCs) in Halifax such as Uber, Lyft and URide would submit their record checks to the municipality. Currently, those companies do their own background checks of drivers. 

Halifax Regional Council voted unanimously (16-0) on Tuesday to postpone the vote on the first reading of the bylaw to the next council meeting on Jan. 27, allowing more time for a staff report on alternative TNC licensing models. 

Brian Herman is president of Casino Taxi, which operates 345 taxis in Halifax and has been in business since 1928. He is critical of the double standards in licensing for TNC drivers and taxi drivers and supports the bylaw proposal.

“The problem is that the city of Halifax doesn’t have the information to vet whether (the checks) are actually occurring. Regardless of additional burden and red tape, I think what it comes down to is public safety.”

Uber has been the subject of public scrutiny after a 2024 report by the New York Times detailed over 400,000 sexual assault complaints in the United States between 2017-2023. In Canada, there is an active class action suit for sexual assault cases by Uber drivers. Uber has also been criticized for taking advantage of its drivers, with claims of the company taking 50-60 per cent of the percentage of revenue, versus the set rates of 12 per cent by taxi brokers like Casino Taxi.

The proposed updates to the licensing bylaw are similar to other Canadian municipalities, including Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Calgary. 

Uber is critical of the bylaw changes. In an email sent out to its drivers, Uber urged council to maintain the existing framework in place. The reasons stated include higher costs for drivers to get the proposed license (an initial $135, and then $100 to renew every two years), and that the changes would add administrative burden to the HRM staff.

Mayor Andy Fillmore echoed Uber’s concerns. He expressed that the proposed TNC driver licensing model will be “overly cumbersome” and “drive up costs for riders”. He wants city staff to write a report with a look at alternatives, such as a data-sharing model where TNC operators would submit required driver information to the municipality on a regular basis.

Brian Herman from Casino Taxi said he was “a little shocked” to hear the mayor’s concerns.

“Everything’s probably fine and above board with current ride share companies, but that’s not to say the next ride share that might launch tomorrow is going to have the same standards. I think it’s appropriate to ensure that a regulator regulates, and that’s just what they’re there for,” Herman said.

Uber spokesperson Keerthana Rang said the company is looking forward to working with the city.

“We are encouraged that council took the time to listen to drivers’ concerns that the staff report would add red tape and increase costs, with no additional safety benefit,” she said.

U.S.-based Uber has been operating in HRM since 2020. Lyft and Canadian-based URide entered the Halifax market in 2025.