The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Uber Technologies is battling the City of Halifax over proposed rules that would give the municipality full control over the licensing of rideshare drivers -- a process that is currently run by the ride-hailing giant. The Globe's Vanmala Subramaniam writes that in most parts of the country where rideshare operates, the companies issue licences to prospective drivers, conducting their own background checks. This stands in contrast to how taxi drivers are licensed in most parts of Canada, where they have to undergo a specific training program that is administered by the city in which they operate, and background checks are conducted by the city, which ultimately issues a licence. "This started out as a safety issue. We'd like more transparency around the driver's record and safety history," mayor Andy Fillmore told The Globe. The tussle between Uber and Halifax is the latest in a series of clashes between the San Francisco-based company and Canadian jurisdictions over how Uber drivers are onboarded, and whether rideshare companies are taking sufficient precautions to ensure the safety of riders. Halifax wants rideshare drivers to pay $135 to complete city-run training.
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