All-party committee of B.C. MLAs to research ride-hailing options
The controversial question of allowing ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft to operate in B.C. will be researched by a group of MLAs from the NDP, Greens and Liberals.
Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver said Thursday his private member’s bill to allow ride-hailing will be referred to the all-party legislative committee on Crown corporations, which will hold hearings, gather testimony and write a report by Feb. 15.
Weaver, the MLA for Oak Bay Gordon Head, said the goal is to come up with a detailed list of what needs to be in the legislation.
Ride hailing has proved a politically sensitive issue.
The former B.C. Liberal government proposed changes to regulations for the existing taxi industry, while allowing companies such as Uber into B.C., only to be punished by a backlash from taxi drivers in Lower Mainland ridings in the May provincial election.
The NDP had promised to protect the traditional taxi industry, while allowing ride hailing by the end of 2017. However, after forming government, Transportation Minister Claire Trevena abandoned that deadline and announced a review of the existing taxi industry that excluded opinions from ride-hailing companies.
Weaver said the legislative committee’s research on ride hailing will complement Trevena’s yet to be completed report on taxis. It’s expected to include testimony from ride-hailing companies and presentations from the public and others with an interest in the subject.
“We’re saying: ‘OK, you excluded ride-hailing from that process. In fact, it’s not even in the terms of reference. We’ll set up a process that will develop separate regulatory advice and legislative advice to do separate legislation,” Weaver said.
Ride hailing is a sensitive issue for the NDP minority government, which has a tenuous hold on power and can’t afford to upset taxi drivers whose votes helped it win key Metro Vancouver ridings such as those in Surrey in May. The all-party committee potentially sets the stage for the NDP to align with the Liberals and Greens on ride-for-hire proposals, providing political cover for all parties should they choose to co-operate.
“I don’t think it will be a political issue,” said Weaver. “I honestly don’t. When you have all-party support on something, it’s very hard to make it a political issue. If you all agree on something, it’s easier. You are there together and stand together.”