Statement from Uber Canada on the 2017 Federal Budget

TORONTO, March 23, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, Mr. Ian Black, Regional General Manager for Uber Canada issued the following statement on the new proposed taxes for ridesharing in the Federal budget tabled in Ottawa yesterday.

"This new tax on innovation would hurt over a million Canadians who use ridesharing to earn income and get around their cities.

At a time when Canadians spend far too much time stuck in traffic -- and people should be encouraged to leave their cars at home, take public transit, and share rides -- we should be supporting policies that make sustainable transportation more affordable, not more expensive. 

Federal tax laws already offers small business owners a break on collecting sales tax, but unfairly exclude taxi drivers. The best way to support taxi drivers and level the playing field is to extend the same exemption to them.

Considering how many Canadians this tax will directly impact, we ask for meaningful consultation on this proposal and hope to work with the Government on smart solutions that support innovation."

About Uber Canada

Co-founded by Canadian entrepreneur Garrett Camp in 2009, Uber is evolving the way the world moves. Present in over 40 communities in Canada, Uber has revolutionized transportation and offers more than 32,000 Canadian driver-partners a new way to earn income in their spare time by offering an affordable transportation alternative to hundreds of thousands of riders across the country. For more information, visit uber.com.

SOURCE Uber Canada Inc.

For further information: Susie Heath, Senior Communications Associate, Uber Canada, [e-mail]; Jean-Christophe de Le Rue, Senior Communications Associate, Uber Canada, 613-806-0671, [e-mail]