Brakes kept on Uber, says Green candidate
Robert Stupka accuses Liberals, NDP of caring more about votes from taxi industry than introducing ride-hailing
The current NDP government and the Liberals before it have been more focused on pleasing the taxi industry than on pushing forward with ride-hailing in B.C., Green candidate Robert Stupka said Friday at a candidates forum for the Kelowna West byelection.
“A lot of people want us to flip the switch on Uber,” said NDP candidate Shelley Cook at the forum at the Okanagan Innovation Centre. “We’re looking at regulations relating to ensuring an equitable playing field with existing transportation professionals.”
Liberal candidate Ben Stewart said government should be embracing such companies as part of an emerging tech community, but agreed taxis need to be part of the discussion.
Stupka said the Liberal and NDP approach to handling taxis is what is holding B.C. back from having ride-hailing.
“What’s holding us back is government protecting the status quo, restricting the entry for innovation,” he said. “It’s been the NDP and the B.C. Liberals trying to chase votes from the taxi industry. We do not need a level playing field with industries of the past.”
Libertarian Kyle Geronazzo said he is in favour of the sharing economy, but that less is more when it comes to government regulation, adding industries are best left to self-regulate.
B.C. Conservative Mark Thompson agreed government should limit regulations on ride-hailing.
“All we can do is help make it the best,” he said, adding safety is a top priority for him.
To improve transportation in the area, Thompson said he supports building overpasses to keep traffic flowing.
Thompson also said he would like to see a second crossing of Okanagan Lake built within the next five to 10 years.
“That means we need to be planning it immediately,” he said.
Geronazzo said he is in favour of a second crossing, but thinks the private sector should step up at no cost to the taxpayers.
Rather than improving the flow of traffic, Cook focused on reducing the number of vehicles on the roads by improving transit and encouraging the use of bicycles.
“What we’re thinking is walkable, livable cities with urban centres,” she said.
Stewart criticized the NDP government’s decision to remove all tolls from bridges in the Lower Mainland, saying this led to an increase in traffic on the bridges.
“You can’t tell me that’s a smart initiative of using our infrastructure better,” he said. “We put in a carbon tax to try to make people think about the way they were using their vehicles.”
Stupka pointed out the Greens were the only party against reducing or eliminating bridge tolls on the Port Mann Bridge, while the Liberals campaigned to cap the tolls last election.
The byelection is Feb. 14.