Ottawa residents ready for change in taxi industry, survey finds

Mainstreet surveyed a random sample of 7,323 Canadians by Smart IVR™ on August 12-13, 2015 across 6 cities: Edmonton, London, Montréal, Ottawa, Québec City and Toronto. A

mixture of landlines and cell phones were surveyed. Margins of error: Edmonton: +/-2.89%; London +/-3.7%; Montréal +/-2.73%; Ottawa +/- 2.65%; Québec City +/-2.73%; Toronto:

+/-2.52% 19 times out of 20. Results were weighed by language (where applicable), age and gender based on the 2011 Canadian Census.

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"Exclusive Mainstreet/Postmedia polls are protected by copyright. The information and/or data may only be rebroadcast or republished with full and proper credit and attribution to “Mainstreet/Postmedia”.

OTTAWA DIVIDED OVER UBER

August 21, 2015 (Toronto, ON) – A new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll finds Ottawans split over the ride-sharing service Uber, with 40% agreeing the service should be banned and 36% saying that Uber drivers should be allowed to operate without a taxi license. The Mainstreet/Postmedia poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.65%, 19/20 and is part of a larger survey set focused on Uber in Canada. Collectively the six polls have 7,323 respondents across six cities; they are the largest independent poll of Uber worldwide.

“Uber continues to be a divisive issue in Ottawa, but without cutting along generational or other lines” said Quito Maggi, president of Mainstreet Research. “Our findings show that most Ottawans are paying close attention to the situation surrounding Uber and taxis, with those most aware of the situation tending to favour Uber. Taxis, meanwhile, remain fairly popular.”

The poll found that most Ottawans were divided over Uber, with those over the age of 65 significantly favouring banning it. All other age groups were nearly evenly divided. “Ottawans support for Uber doesn’t seem to have much to do with age,” said Maggi. “That contrasts with the generational divide seen elsewhere.”

Mainstreet asked Ottawans how closely they’ve followed issues surrounding Uber, an overwhelming majority (72%) are following either very or somewhat closely. Those keeping abreast of the situation were much more likely to support Uber, with 46% of those following the story siding with the ride sharing service and 56% of those not following believing it should be banned.

While Ottawans are divided on Uber and taxis, they’re still much more comfortable with the latter’s safety record. While an overwhelming 88% of respondents felt that taxis were safe, only 50% said the same of Uber. The results reflected a generational divide, with a majority those 18-34 and 34-49 believing Uber to be somewhat or very safe.

When it comes to the future of taxis in this city, half of Ottawans favour abolishing the current system, though most believe that a compromise should be reached between Uber and the taxi industry and that Uber should follow the same rules. Of the 50% in favour of ditching the system, most want compensation for current cab drivers. Only 13% of respondents want to keep the system intact while over a third weren’t sure. While respondents were strongly in favour of Uber playing by the same rules, with 58% saying Uber should have the same regulations as taxis, they were divided as to whether Ubers and taxis should work out a compromise (34%) or taxis should compete with Uber (33%).

“While Uber has made inroads in Ottawa, there’s still much to be said,” added Maggi. “People are paying attention, and lots of them like Uber. Yet many are still skeptical of the ride sharing service. It’s going to take a strong e�ort by Uber to win over both Ottawa’s politicians and population.”

About Mainstreet ResearchMainstreet is a national public research firm. With 20 years of political experience at all three levels of government, President and CEO Quito Maggi is a respected commentator on Canadian public a�airs.

Di�erentiated by its large sample sizes, Mainstreet has provided accurate snapshots of public opinion, having predicted a majority NDP government in Alberta (2015), a majority Liberal government in British Columbia, and a majority Liberal government in Ontario. Most recently, Mainstreet was the most accurate pollster of November’s Toronto mayoral election.

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Available for Interview from Toronto: Quito Maggi, [email protected] more information: David Valentin, (613) 698-5524 - [email protected]

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"Exclusive Mainstreet/Postmedia polls are protected by copyright. The information and/or data may only be rebroadcast or republished with full and proper credit and attribution to “Mainstreet/Postmedia”.

HOW OTTAWA COMPARES

Ottawans’ backing of Uber is moderate among Canadian cities. At 36%, support for the ride sharing service is identical in Edmonton, a similarly sized city where Uber also launched in December. In Toronto and Montreal, where Uber has a more established presence, 45 and 46% were supportive. “The key factor in determining support that Uber across Canada seems to be how big the city is and how long Uber’s been there,” said Maggi. “In larger places where Uber’s been around for a while, people are far more sympathetic to it. Contrast this with somewhere like London, where Uber’s only been around a month and has yet to draw broad public backing. Ottawa and Edmonton find themselves somewhere in the middle.”

Indeed, smaller cities where Uber has only recently arrived seem to be the least appreciative. Only 23% of Londoners support Uber’s continued operation, which began July 27. Fully 47% of respondents in the Forest City want Uber banned. In Québec City, where Uber launched in February, 32% think it should stay while 43% favour a ban.

Mainstreet found that Ottawans’ overwhelming knowledge of the situation with Uber and taxis is similar to those elsewhere. Fully 70% of Montréalers, 60% of Québeckers, 50% of Edmontonians and 70% of Torontonians say they’re very or somewhat close following it. Only those in London were significantly less informed, with a mere 37% of respondents following the situation.

Ottawans tended to agree with the residents of other cities when on Uber’s safety record; the 50% of city residents who consider Uber very or somewhat safe is similar to Montréal (47%), Québec City (43%) and Toronto (48%). Residents of Edmonton and London were more skeptical, with only 29% of Londoners calling Uber safe. The disparity was non-existent when it came to taxis, however; in each city at least 84% of respondents felt that taxis were safe.

When it comes to the future of the taxi industry in Canada, abolishing the system of licenses and medallions and compensating drivers, Ottawa’s preferred option, was broadly supported across Canada. Only Edmontonians were split between abolition and the status quo, while Londoners favoured abolition without compensation (36%). Ottawans’ views fell in line with those from other cities on the issue of Uber following the same rules as taxis, with 58-66% of respondents in each city favouring a compromise between Uber and taxis, with 34-38% of respondents in each city.

“Canadians are still getting used to Uber,” added Maggi. “We see that in larger cities where the ride sharing service is more accepted, people are much more likely to support it. Uber’s challenge is to raise awareness and get more people using the service, which will build support, while avoiding trouble with regulation and the taxi industry. The window for the Taxi industry to impact public opinion is narrowing but they have a key advantage when it comes to safety. The challenge for Taxis will be to o�er comparable smartphone applications in order to compete and to convince City Halls across Canada to take action against Uber in the face of rising public support.”

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LEANING AND DECIDED

VERY CLOSELYSOMEWHAT CLOSELYNOT TOO CLOSELYNOT AT ALL CLOSELYNOT AWARESAMPLE

Very Closely Somewhat Closely Not Too Closely Not At All Closely Not Aware

18-3431%31%19%19%0%96

35-4932%45%16%3%5%144

50-6431%44%19%3%3%609

65+27%46%17%8%2%522

Female25%39%23%11%2%794

Male36%42%13%7%3%577

31%

41%

18%

9%2%

Ottawa Only

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LEANING AND DECIDED

VERY CLOSELYSOMEWHAT CLOSELYNOT TOO CLOSELYNOT AT ALL CLOSELYNOT AWARE OF THE STORYSAMPLE

QC26%34%24%12%4%1291

MTL32%38%18%5%7%

1292

OTT31%41%18%9%2%1371

EDM23%28%26%13%10%1152

TO32%38%19%5%7%

1514

LDN13%24%31%23%11%703

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0QC MTL OTT TO EDM LDN

Very Closely Somewhat Closely Not Too Closely Not At All Closely Not Aware

A6

THE PRACTICE SHOULD CONTINUETHE PRACTICE SHOULD BE BANNED DON’T KNOWSAMPLE

CONTINUE: 36% BANNED: 40% DON’T KNOW: 24%

THE PRACTICE SHOULD CONTINUETHE PRACTICE SHOULD BE BANNED DON’T KNOW

Continue Banned Don’t Know

18-3438%38%25%96

35-4937%38%25%144

50-6436%40%25%609

65+33%47%20%522

Female34%37%29%794

Male38%43%19%577

Following Closely46%33%21%

Not Following Closely10%56%34%

36%

40%

24%

Ottawa Only

A7

THE PRACTICE SHOULD CONTINUETHE PRACTICE SHOULD BE BANNED DON’T KNOWSAMPLE

QC32%43%26%1291

MTL46%38%16%1292

OTT36%40%24%1371

EDM36%41%23%1152

TO45%37%18%1514

LDN23%47%31%703

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

QC MTL OTT TO EDM LDN

Continue Banned Don’t Know

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LEANING AND DECIDED

VERY SAFESOMEWHAT SAFESOMEWHAT UNSAFEVERY UNSAFE DON’T KNOWSAMPLE

SAFE: 50% UNSAFE: 29% NOT SURE: 20%

Very Safe Somewhat Safe Somewhat Unsafe Very Unsafe Don’t Know

VERY SAFESOMEWHAT SAFESOMEWHAT UNSAFEVERY UNSAFE DON’T KNOW

18-3419%31%31%6%12%96

35-4926%25%22%6%22%144

50-6414%37%24%4%21%609

65+17%35%16%4%29%522

Female13%33%27%5%22%794

Male25%30%21%6%18%577

Following Closely26%35%19%7%14%

Not Following Closely4%24%37%1%

35%

19%

31%

24%

5%

20%

Ottawa Only

A9

LEANING AND DECIDED


QC17%26%24%10%23%1291

MTL16%31%21%13%19%1291

OTT19%31%24%5%

20%1371

EDM12%25%26%16%21%1152

TO16%32%19%12%20%1514

LDN9%

20%30%15%26%703

30

25

20

15

10

5

0



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LEANING AND DECIDED


SAFE: 88% UNSAFE: 10% NOT SURE: 2%


VERY SAFESOMEWHAT SAFESOMEWHAT UNSAFEVERY UNSAFE DON’T KNOW

18-3419%75%6%0%0%96

35-4920%68%11%0%2%144

50-6420%66%9%3%3%609

65+19%64%12%1%5%522

Female18%68%10%1%3%794

Male20%69%9%1%1%577

Following Closely19%68%11%1%1%

Not Following Closely21%73%3%0%3%

19%

69%

9%1% 2%

Ottawa Only

A11

LEANING AND DECIDED


QC19%67%7%2%4%1291

MTL32%54%9%2%3%

1292

OTT19%69%9%1%2%1371

EDM31%53%9%3%5%1152

TO34%51%11%1%4%1514

LDN25%60%9%1%6%703


60

50

40

30

20

10

0


A12

MAINTAIN CURRENT SYSTEMABOLISH & COMPENSATEABOLISH WITHOUT COMPENSATIONNOT SURESAMPLE

MAINTAIN CURRENT SYSTEMABOLISH COMPENSATEABOLISH WITHOUT COMPENSATIONNOT SURE

Maintain Abolish Without CompensationAbolish & Compensate Not Sure

18-3413%19%19%50%96

35-4911%48%12%29%144

50-6415%34%21%30%609

65+17%41%12%30%522

Female17%32%8%

43%794

Male11%37%24%29%577

Following Closely13%38%19%30%


13%

34%

16%

36%

Ottawa Only

A13

MAINTAIN CURRENT SYSTEMABOLISH & COMPENSATEABOLISH WITHOUT COMPENSATIONNOT SURESAMPLE

QC18%31%12%39%1291

MTL22%35%13%31%1292

OTT13%34%16%36%1371

EDM27%27%10%37%1152

TO24%30%14%33%1514

LDN29%21%36%14%703

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0


Maintain Abolish Without CompensationAbolish & Compensate Not Sure

A14

YES NO NOT SURESAMPLE

YES: 64% NO: 12% NOT SURE: 23%

YES NO NOT SURE

Yes No Not Sure

18-3444%19%38%96

35-4965%26%9%144

50-6462%15%23%609

65+67%14%18%522

Female54%20%26%794

Male62%18%19%577

Following Closely60%21%18%

Not Following Closely53%14%33%

58%

19%

23%

Ottawa Only

A15

YES NO NOT SURESAMPLE

QC60%17%23%1291

MTL63%18%20%1292

OTT58%19%23%1371

EDM66%13%21%1152

TO63%14%23%1514

LDN64%12%23%703

Yes No Not Sure

65

60

55

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0


A16

FAIR COMPROMISETAXI DRIVERS SHOULD COMPETEPUNISH UBERNOT SURESAMPLE

FAIR COMPROMISETAXI DRIVERS SHOULD COMPETEPUNISH UBERNOT SURE

18-3425%44%25%6%96

35-4934%38%11%17%144

50-6440%27%23%10%609

65+44%16%21%19%522

Female35%31%18%16%794

Male34%35%22%10%577

Following Closely33%41%19%7%


34%

33%

20%

12%

Ottawa Only

Not Sure*Compromise* Compete*Punish Uber*

A17

FAIR COMPROMISETAXI DRIVERS SHOULD COMPETEPUNISH UBERNOT SURESAMPLE

QC35%29%21%15%1291

MTL36%25%23%15%1292

OTT34%33%20%12%1371

EDM38%20%23%19%1152

TO38%21%24%17%1514

LDN34%21%23%21%703

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0


Not Sure*Compromise* Compete*Punish Uber*

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How closely have you been following the story of Uber, the ride sharing application?

Very closelySomewhat closely

Not too closelyNot at all closely

Not aware of the story

Uber is a smartphone application. Users can use their phones to request a ride. Drivers are then connected with passengers. Once a ride is complete, riders are charged by Uber on their credit card and drivers are given a portion of the fare. The practice has encountered

controversy because critics claim these drivers do not have a municipally required taxi license, the proper insurance or security screening. Supporters say background checks are

performed on drivers and that this service is more convenient and cheaper than taking a taxi. Do you think uber drivers should be allowed to operate without a municipally required

taxi license or should this practice be banned?

The practice should continueThe practice should be banned

Don’t know

And, in your opinion, how safe of a service is Uber?

Very safeSomewhat safe

Somewhat unsafeVery unsafeDon’t know

And, in your opinion, how safe are taxis?



Currently, in order to drive a Taxi you must hold a Taxi Medallion or a taxi license issued by the municipality. These Medallions and licenses cost up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Some have suggested doing away with Taxi Medallions and licenses all together to make room for new and emerging options. In your opinion what should be done about Taxi

Medallions and licenses?

The current system should be maintainedTaxi medallions and licenses should be abolished and taxi drivers compensated

by the license issuer, the municipalityTaxi Medallions should be abolished without compensation to those who

purchased them to operate a taxiNot sure

Some Cities are looking to introduce specific ridesharing regulation specifically to deal with Uber. Taxi Drivers say it would be unfair for Uber to operate without proper insurance and

security checks. Uber maintains its service is safe and lowers the price of fares for consumers. In your opinion, should Uber be held to the same standards as Taxis through

ridesharing regulation, or not?

YesNo

Not Sure

In your opinion, knowing what you do about taxi’s and Uber, which of the following best describes your feelings about the current situation:

There needs to be a fair compromise between the existing taxi drivers and UberTaxi drivers need to compete with new technology – even if it means they go out business

Uber needs to operate on a fair playing ground and needs to be punished until new rules are bought into place

Not sure

A19

How closely have you been following the story of Uber, the ride sharing application?

Very closelySomewhat closely

Not too closelyNot at all closely

Not aware of the story

Uber is a smartphone application. Users can use their phones to request a ride. Drivers are then connected with passengers. Once a ride is complete, riders are charged by Uber on their credit card and drivers are given a portion of the fare. The practice has encountered

controversy because critics claim these drivers do not have a municipally required taxi license, the proper insurance or security screening. Supporters say background checks are

performed on drivers and that this service is more convenient and cheaper than taking a taxi. Do you think uber drivers should be allowed to operate without a municipally required

taxi license or should this practice be banned?

The practice should continueThe practice should be banned

Don’t know

And, in your opinion, how safe of a service is Uber?



And, in your opinion, how safe are taxis?



Currently, in order to drive a Taxi you must hold a Taxi Medallion or a taxi license issued by the municipality. These Medallions and licenses cost up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Some have suggested doing away with Taxi Medallions and licenses all together to make room for new and emerging options. In your opinion what should be done about Taxi

Medallions and licenses?

The current system should be maintainedTaxi medallions and licenses should be abolished and taxi drivers compensated

by the license issuer, the municipalityTaxi Medallions should be abolished without compensation to those who

purchased them to operate a taxiNot sure

Some Cities are looking to introduce specific ridesharing regulation specifically to deal with Uber. Taxi Drivers say it would be unfair for Uber to operate without proper insurance and

security checks. Uber maintains its service is safe and lowers the price of fares for consumers. In your opinion, should Uber be held to the same standards as Taxis through

ridesharing regulation, or not?

YesNo

Not Sure

In your opinion, knowing what you do about taxi’s and Uber, which of the following best describes your feelings about the current situation:

There needs to be a fair compromise between the existing taxi drivers and UberTaxi drivers need to compete with new technology – even if it means they go out business

Uber needs to operate on a fair playing ground and needs to be punished until new rules are bought into place

Not sure

Documents

Ottawa residents ready for change in taxi industry, survey finds