National

Ride-Hailing Not Coming To British Columbia Until Fall Of 2019

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Jul, 2018 01:05 PM

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia government says it will ease into allowing ride-hailing services in the province, laying the groundwork for the new rides to enter the market as early as the fall of 2019.

In the meantime, Transport Minister Claire Trevena says it will increase the number of taxis on the streets to help people get a safe ride and allow for flexible fares for existing taxi firms that arrange rides using apps.

Do You Want Ride-Hailing Services Like Uber In Metro Vancouver And BC?
— Darpan Magazine (@darpanmagazine) July 19, 2018

Allowing services such as Uber and Lyft into the province by the end of 2017 was a promise by the NDP government during the last election, but Trevena would not commit to a new deadline during a news conference today.

Do You Want Ride-Hailing Services Like Uber In Metro Vancouver And BC?
Posted by Darpan Magazine on Thursday, 19 July 2018

This is what the NDP said about ridesharing before forming government. Reporters are asking about what the timeline is now; and are being told the legislation is coming this fall. No timeline. pic.twitter.com/GTOGRNs4DQ
— CTV Bhinder Sajan (@BhinderSajan) July 19, 2018

Ride-hailing companies have been lobbying to enter the B.C. market, and now the government says it expects applications from firms to be submitted to the Passenger Transportation Board by September 2019.

What confuses me is this. The government is more concerned about the safety of a passenger or driver in an Uber than they are the safety of someone waiting an hour for a cab on Granville at 1AM. #bcpoli
— Richard Zussman (@richardzussman) July 19, 2018

Trevena's media scrum was very bizarre. She won't answer multiple questions about whether ride-hailing will be in BC by 2018. Doesn't repeat the exact sentence in the press release that says service by 'fall 2019'. #bcpoli
— Richard Zussman (@richardzussman) July 19, 2018

The B.C. Liberals did not deliver ride-hailing. But they did have framework legislation that would have seen Uber and Lyft on the road in fall 2017. That included money for a new app for cab companies and getting rid of the regional cab designations. #bcpoli
— Richard Zussman (@richardzussman) July 19, 2018

The government hired expert Dan Hara to consult with the industry and stakeholders and his report along with recommendations from an all-party legislative committee will be used to modernize the Passenger Transportation Act.

I can't remember the last time I've watched a minister spend 15 minutes standing in front of reporters ducking, dodging, sidestepping and refusing to repeat out loud what their own press release says. https://t.co/lG3rRgGgHh
— Rob Shaw (@robshaw_vansun) July 19, 2018

Hara's report says there should be 300 more cabs in Metro Vancouver and another 200 around the province.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Five B.C. Families Stuck In Japan As Canada Refuses Visas For Adopted Babies

Ryan Hoag spent his first Father's Day separated from his wife and baby daughter by more than 7,500 kilometres and reams of red tape.

Five B.C. Families Stuck In Japan As Canada Refuses Visas For Adopted Babies

Marijuana Still Illegal For Now In Canada, As Is Driving On Drugs: Justice Minister

"I urge all Canadians to continue to follow the existing law until the Cannabis Act comes into force," Wilson-Raybould told a news conference Wednesday in the foyer of the House of Commons.

Marijuana Still Illegal For Now In Canada, As Is Driving On Drugs: Justice Minister

Rob Ford's Widow Gets Suspended Sentence, 3 Years Probation In Impaired Driving Case

A judge ordered three years of probation and 100 hours of community service for Renata Ford, and also issued a two-year driving ban and a $1,100 fine for the 2016 incident.

Rob Ford's Widow Gets Suspended Sentence, 3 Years Probation In Impaired Driving Case

Donald Trump Claims Canadians Are 'Smuggling' Shoes Back To Canada

U.S. President Donald Trump's claim Canadians are smuggling shoes across the border to avoid "massive" tariffs on American goods doesn't make sense, experts say.

Donald Trump Claims Canadians Are 'Smuggling' Shoes Back To Canada

Vancouver Island's 'Tectonic Dance' Revealed By Hundreds Of Tiny Tremors

Hundreds of tiny tremors, felt only by sensitive monitors, have shivered under southern Vancouver Island in the last 48 hours, leading one scientist to predict they may signal what he calls a "tectonic dance."