'Uber Winnipeg' Instagram page not official, company says

An Instagram account promoting Uber in Winnipeg, with the claim that it's coming to the city in May, is not an officialaccount, the ride-sharing company says.

The @uberwinnipeg account launched this week, claiming it is "coming May 1, 2016." Many of the photos shown are also found on Uber's official Instagram account.

However, an Uber Canada spokesperson told CBC News the Winnipeg Instagram page is not an official account.

"We don't have specific launch plans for Winnipeg at the moment," the spokesperson said in an email Tuesday.

"I can tell you that Uber aims to expand to communities across Canada, and we're always looking at what's next we will continue to work collaboratively with officials at all levels of government as part of our ongoing process to continue to explore expansion in a number of cities across Canada."

Uber officials visited Manitoba in October as they looked at several Canadian markets, including Winnipeg.

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The Winnipeg Taxi Alliance, a coalition of local companies that formed to highlight the benefits of using regulated cabs, opposes allowing Uber to operate in the city.

Also, a commentary published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' Manitoba office on Tuesdaydetails numerous concerns that have already been raised about Uber, such as low driverearnings and a lack of accessibility for customers with physical disabilities. It instead calls for better public transit and cycling and walking infrastructure.

The Manitoba Taxicab Board, a provincial agency that regulates the industry in Winnipeg, recently announced a review of the state of the industry.

Among other things, the review will look at ways to meet customer demand and ensure public safety.

Active consultations with stakeholders will begin in late April, after the provincial election is held, the board said.