Michael van Hemmen, head of Western Canada for Uber, addresses the media during a news conference in Vancouver B.C, Wednesday, January, 29, 2020. Van Hemmen was answering questions about Uber's injunction application to stop the city of Surrey from illegally fining drivers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Premier John Horgan says Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum is putting up unnecessary roadblocks to ride-hailing and should listen to citizens in his community who want to see competition.
The premier made the comments after the mayor alleged Uber was operating illegally in his city and threatened to issue 500 dollar tickets to drivers.
Uber has responded by filing a court injunction to block the city from issuing the fines, which it says are illegal.
The company says it holds a provincial permit to operate and Surrey has not created its own business licence for ride-hailing, so there is no bylaw that drivers can be accused of violating.