Ride-sharing services needed

It’s rare that all political parties running with the intention to form government agree on something. Ride-sharing, or ride-hailing, was one of those issues. All three major provincial political parties — the Liberals, the NDP, and the Greens — agreed before the May 2017 election to have a framework in place by Christmas 2017, if they were to form government.

Instead of taking the plan the previous B.C. Liberal government proposed, the NDP decided to commission a report from an “expert.” They also tasked a legislative committee to commission a report. Now, the public is left waiting. What has become of those reports? What is the minister of transportation doing with them?

Tales have emerged in recent weeks with a consistent theme: the current taxi service industry is inadequate. I read with despair about the bartender who was kicked out of a cab at 4 a.m. for wanting to go “too far.” As a resident of the North Shore with three adult children, I’ve heard this story many times. I have heard countless stories from Metro Vancouver residents who complain of rude drivers, being refused service home, and being left on the side of the road for hours after being promised a ride within minutes.

The news release announcing the hiring of the previously mentioned expert said: “The Province’s plan and timeline to bring ride-sharing services into the province will be delivered in 2018 with legislative changes anticipated for the fall.” Let’s hold them to this already-broken promise.

Jane Thornthwaite, MLA,

North Vancouver-Seymour