Proposed guidelines that relax the regulations placed on conventional taxis and create a new licensing category for ridesharing services like Uber are “fair and equitable” despite widespread criticism, Mayor John Tory says.

Representatives for the taxi industry along with a number of city councillors have criticized the guidelines for creating a “two-tiered system” but on Friday Tory told CP24 that the rules actually create a fairer system for Toronto residents.

“If people focus on the public interest as opposed to any of the factions that are involved here, they will see that that these are fair and equitable rules,” he said. “This is designed to make sure taxi drivers can earn a living and that the public will have choice and will have the assurance of a safe ride with good inspections and good driver checks.”

The proposed guidelines, which will be debated at the licensing and standards committee next Thursday, remove many of the regulations that were previously in effect for the taxi industry, including requirements around training and the types of vehicles used.

At the same time, the guidelines create a new licensing classification for services like Uber, introducing several rules around how often vehicles are inspected, what kind of insurance drivers must possess and what kind of background checks they undergo.

Speaking with CP24 from Shanghai where he is participating in a trade mission, Tory said the guidelines reflect the fact that “technology has changed the world” while easing the regulatory burden that had previously been placed upon taxi drivers and brokerages.

“What had happened was that the training and other requirements being imposed on taxi drivers had become too stringent. It was up to 17 days of training and with GPS, a competitive marketplace and a fair set of rules I think it’ll be in the interest of taxi drivers, taxi companies and Uber to have people well trained and provide good service because then they will win the business of the public,” he said. “I think that the marketplace will largely determine it.”

City council will have final say on the proposed guidelines. Council will debate the matter in May.