Uber Canada will formally apply for a Toronto taxi brokerage license today in an apparent shift from its longtime position that it is a technology company that shouldn’t be held to the same regulatory framework as cab services.

In a statement issued to CP24, the company confirmed that it would seek a brokerage license for its UberTAXI service to demonstrate its “commitment to collaboration” with the city.

The company will not, however, seek a license for its Uberx service, which allows ordinary drivers who are screened by the company to pick up fares in their own cars.

The move comes as the city awaits a court hearing later this month where it is seeking an injunction that could put the brakes on Uber’s Toronto operations altogether.

“We believe that by collaborating with the city, council can establish ridesharing regulations for uberX, as has been done in jurisdictions across North America,” the statement from Uber Canada reads. “To demonstrate our commitment to collaboration, we intend to apply for a brokerage license for our UberTAXI product today, as a first step towards our participation in a comprehensive regulatory solution that includes ridesharing.”

In November, Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards Tracey Cook told reporters that Uber is operating in “flagrant disregard” of city rules and is “jeopardizing public safety.” since its vehicles and drivers are not held to the same stringent standards as those belonging to licensed cab services.

Mayor John Tory did seem to offer an olive branch to the service on Monday, though, telling the Toronto Region Board of Trade that Uber, conventional taxi services and city officials all have to work together to come up with a regulatory solution.

“We need a modern, efficient and effective ground transportation and I am urging the Beck Taxis and the Ubers to come to the table and sit down and do what is right for the people of the city,” he said.

Uber operates in 230 cities across the world and has frequently faced criticism from taxi drivers who say the service does not provide the same level of service that licenced cabs do.

Speaking with CP24 on Tuesday morning, Ward 7 Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti accused Tory of interfering with an ongoing court case by weighing in on the future of the service.

“Uber has been in court with the city for quite some time now. There are some of us that truly believe with the mayor’s intervention that he has actually challenged the integrity of that court case,” he said. “I can’t sit back and just accept something like that from the mayor of the City of Toronto.”

Uber has operated in the city since 2012.

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