Ramit Kar, Uber's general manager for Alberta, said last week the ride-hailing company "just can't operate" under the bylaw, as written, and suggested Calgary adopt rules more similar to those approved by Edmonton last month.

Kar described Calgary's proposed $220 in annual licensing fees and relatively stringent requirements for background checks and vehicle inspections as "unworkable" for its drivers, particular those who work part-time.

Follow the council discussion via our live tweets below (mobile app users click here):

Kar said Edmonton's per-trip fee of six cents in addition to an annual lump sum of $50,000 paid to the city directly by the company makes more sense for the majority of Uber drivers in the provincial capital, who drive less than 10 hours per week.

Magliocca said council will likely tweak the bylaw to some extent but he doesn't believe Calgary should entirely re-write it in order to accommodate all of Uber's wishes.

"They're a $60-billion company. They can think outside the box," he said.

"They'll work around it. They're entrepreneurs. A good entrepreneur can figure things out to get around it."