Pressure mounting to legalize ride-hailing services in BC
Posted July 8, 2018 7:27 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – The push continues to get ride-hailing services like Lyft and Uber approved in British Columbia before the busy holiday season in December.
A key supporter is again accusing the NDP government of deliberately stalling legislation initially promised by the end of last year.
Green Party leader Andrew Weaver says he regularly uses ride-hailing services when he’s on vacation and there’s no excuse for them to still be locked out of this province.
“We still seem to be hung up on the fact that it needs to be studied in BC. We actually need to get on with it. It’s much more than just having and not having. It’s that if you are trying to brand yourself as a place of innovation, as a go-to destination, you can not be considered that if you’re not willing to embrace the innovation.”
Weaver says a report ordered months ago has been completed and he’s boldly predicting ride-hailing services will be operating in BC by the end of this year.
“If not, the government has an awful lot of explaining to do because not only did they commit to having it done last year, they re-committed to having it done this year.”
He’s not just critical of the New Democrats for dragging this out.
“It’s not just the BC NDP. Prior to that, it was the BC Liberals. I brought forward the type of legislation that it was needed to be introduced several years ago now while the Liberals were in power and there’s nothing stop it. It’s purely political will.”
Premier John Horgan recently suggested legislation may not be approved this fall, but Weaver says he’s confident it will because Horgan can’t politically afford to break a promise twice.
