RIDE HAILING: Essentially our work was disregarded and the Minister was unmoved by our work

“Ride sharing legislation is long overdue in BC”, remarked BC Conservative interim leader Scott Anderson several months ago. 

“While the rest of the world is embracing this transportation revolution, BC is only now staggering slowing towards legislation that’s been mainstreamed for over a decade in other jurisdiction.  This is really unacceptable”.

That situation my friends, continues still to this day.

“The NDP introduced a supposed ride-sharing framework that blocks major companies like Uber and Lyft from entering the market – and when our caucus suggested changes to make this framework workable, we were ignored by both the government and the Greens,” says Stephanie Cadieux, deputy chair of the committee and MLA for Surrey South.

“Now several months later, the all-party committee has made the same suggestions. The NDP needs to put ideology aside and implement these recommendations to finally bring real ridesharing to BC.”

According to the BC Liberals, committee members were not asked to consider how to integrate ride-sharing with the current taxi industry. It appears that the NDP has made up its mind that simply repackaging the current taxi industry into an app constitutes ride-sharing.

That would seem to hold true in looking back at the comments of Claire Trevena from last Winter.

In a media release from late November (2018) Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, issued a statement defining the terms and conditions regarding regulations around ride-hailing:

“The Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations will be authorized to examine, inquire into and make recommendations on regulations regarding app-based ride-hailing.  The committee will be authorized to meet for up to three days to hear and will be able to hear from witnesses”.

She then continued, ”Like all legislative committees, this will see members from all parties working together – and it is important that we all work together to keep people safe on our roads, while allowing for new, convenient transportation services to enter the market.”

If that’s the case, then why is it Adam Olsen, Green Party member for Saanich North and the Islands, indicating exactly the opposite has and is happening?

“We spent an incredible amount of time together on a committee to hear witnesses and to debate amongst ourselves the recommendations that we brought forward earlier this week. They're strong recommendations”, Olsen stated

“They could bring ride-hailing to British Columbia. They show that a committee system where politicians cooperate can actually work, but then the minister, after less than 45 minutes, categorically dismissed the recommendations that were put forward on licensing”

ADAM OLSEN: Essentially, our work was disregarded
and the Minister was unmoved by our work.

Meantime, Kamloops North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar made his views known by declaring, “Instead of facilitating real ride-sharing, the NDP integrated a ride-sharing service into the taxi industry – without so much as consulting the committee studying the issue.

“The only way we will see true ride-sharing in this province is by implementing the committee’s recommendations”, Milobar concluded.

Once more, quoting MLA Adam Olsen, “As the member from Surrey South put it on social media, we had 45 minutes of hope on ride-hailing, and then the minister spoke”.

“This is not the action of someone who has taken the time to carefully consider the constructed recommendations, informed by expert testimony — a task that we were given as a committee.  Forty-five (45) minutes is not enough time to put together the communications notes on a decision that was made well in advance”.

Not so according to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Clair Trevena.  “Safety remains paramount to this government”.

The BC Conservatives Scott Anderson however has disagreed. “The reality is that the NDP is trying to please everyone, and in the process is pleasing no one”, he stated before continuing.

“If passenger safety is the objective, current ride-sharing companies already require criminal background and driving history checks.  Let the free market decide the pricing, territories, and the requirements.” 

Speaking in the legislature last Friday, Saanich North and the Islands MLA Olsen stated during Questions period that, “... this is actually not a debate about safety ... what the minister is proposing may very well be a structural barrier that will prevent ride-hailing from coming to British Columbia ...”

“ ... we should establish limits on the vehicles that can be used ... require drivers to have perfect driving records ... enforce limits on the age of drivers. We could do all of these things that ensures only drivers that have no history or a likelihood of accidents can be ride-hailing drivers. There are a lot of options. So, let's do away with the notion that this has anything to do with safety.”

“I want a safe regime as much as the minister. I don't think that that has to come at the cost of ride-hailing to British Columbia”, Olsen remarked.

I agree ... so let’s get on with it!