The B.C. Green Party announced Monday it will introduce legislation to enable ride-hailing services this fall — putting the pressure on the NDP government to come up with a more specific timeline regarding the popular online applications.
Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Greens, said he wants to see the government take a proactive response to technology, pointing out Vancouver is the largest city in North America without ride-hailing.
"The government cannot stick its head in the sand when it comes to new technology," he said.
“In the last election campaign, you will have seen that both the BC Liberals grudgingly and even more grudgingly the BC NDP, both said they would enable ride-sharing by Christmas of this year. I think they need to be pushed in that direction.” Weaver said.
However, he believes this legislation will have Premier John Horgan’s support.
“Well, we have spoken, I’m meeting Mr. Horgan again today. I’ve told him that I will be bringing this in in October, and he’s supportive. You know, the reality is what matters is not what was in the particular election campaigns, but what was in the CASA agreement, the Confidence and Supply Agreement.”
Weaver has introduced ride-hailing legislation twice before, once in April 2016 and again in February 2017.
Weaver said new provisions in the bill he plans to introduce include direction to ICBC to come up with a new insurance category for ride-hailing. He echoed the Liberal call to allow existing taxi firms to maintain a monopoly on customers who hail a ride on the street.
