Uber lawyer says Surrey mayor 'unintelligible' in his opposition to ride-hailing

The legal battle over ride-hailing in Surrey intensified Monday as Uber asked the B.C. Supreme Court to block the city from ticketing its drivers, accusing Mayor Doug McCallum of blocking a provincially approved service through “unlawful” bylaw enforcement.

Uber’s lawyer, Michael Feder, told the court that Surrey has been fining drivers $500 per day for operating without a city business licence, even though the Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) authorized ride-hailing in Metro Vancouver nearly two weeks ago.

“Drivers are being deterred from working under the threat of financial penalties,” Feder said, calling the city’s actions “intelligible only as obstruction.” He argued that while McCallum has publicly said he supports ride-hailing, his administration is effectively banning it.

Surrey’s mayor has defended the city’s approach, insisting the taxi industry deserves a level playing field and reiterating his call for a cap on ride-hailing vehicles. “Without limits, Uber and Lyft can flood the streets, undermining drivers who’ve invested in taxi licences,” McCallum said in a previous council meeting.

Premier John Horgan weighed in last week, saying Surrey was “putting up unnecessary roadblocks” after the PTB granted Metro Vancouver approvals. Transportation Minister Claire Trevena has also emphasized that municipalities cannot impose fleet-size restrictions - a power reserved for the PTB.

The injunction application will be heard later this week, with the court expected to decide whether Surrey can continue ticketing Uber drivers. The case could set a precedent for how municipalities interact with provincially regulated ride-hailing companies.