Dear Hamilton City Council,

As a member of Hamilton’s technology sector, we are committed to making Hamilton a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. To effectively do this, we must welcome new technologies that push the boundaries of traditional business operations and ensure the City of Hamilton is not only keeping up with innovation, but is a leader in Canada. Hamilton is home to a budding high tech and startup community and culture that contributes to a growing number of accelerators, incubators and industry events. Uber is an essential part of what moves the City’s tech sector.

Hamilton has an exciting new generation of young promising entrepreneurs and tech startups who are determined to build and scale dynamic businesses here at home, but it will mean a greater willingness on Hamilton’s leadership to champion new ways of doing things.

The debate around Uber is a perfect example of what’s at stake in Hamilton. It’s important to have smart regulations around uberX/ridesharing in place or else future initiatives like uberEATS, uberPOOL, and uberRUSH won’t be possible.

Uber’s ridesharing program makes sense. Allowing commuters to car­pool via uberPOOL will reduce the vehicle traffic into the city and help decongest our major roadways. Uber helps solve the first KM / last KM problem of getting citizens to and from public transit hubs, and as such is complementary to existing and any future public transit initiatives like Light Rail Transit (LRT). Getting it right is critical, especially for the next generation of tech entrepreneurs and leaders in this City.

City Hall needs to send a message that tech and innovation, including Uber, have a home in Hamilton.

David Carter, Executive Director, Innovation Factory
Matthew Hollingshead, Owner, Hifyre
Alex Sheluchin, Software Developer, Netquity Inc.
Steve McBride, CEO, Weever Apps
Dan Meyer, MedTel Software Ltd.
Jamie Harsevoort, CEO, Webility Solutions
Andrew Konken, Software Developer
Alex Sopinka, CTO, Tasytt
Stephanie McLarty, CEO, REfficient
Tom Pepper, Designer, Weever Apps
Garth Gutenberg, DevOps Manager, Weever Apps Inc
Kevin Browne, Editor – Software Hamilton
Liam Whittle, Owner, ShiftIdeas
Juan Lopez, President, Pipeline Studios
Brandon Aubie, CEO, QReserve Inc.
Michael Salvatori, President, Human_Code
Chris Kitestring, Kitesting
Adam Oldfield, President, FPM3
Shaun Iles, CEO, Flyte Studios Inc.
Alan Sawula, Founder and CEO, Chipsetter