Uber launched in Vancouver for about six months in 2012, but the company withdrew from the province after the transportation regulator mandated a base fare of $75 per trip. While the popular ride-sharing service operates in several cities across Canada, the western-most province has had to make do with official alternatives for the time being.
According to a report by CTV, City of Victoria mayor Lisa Helps said she would welcome Uber to the city as long as it followed the rules. “I support it as long as it’s fair, I support it as long as Uber doesn’t bust into British Columbia and then see what happens. I support them working with the Minister of Transportation to create a legislative framework that makes it fair.”
Uber believes its services would be perfect in Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops and Victoria and says the spring session of Legislature “would be a perfect opportunity for the province” to embrace ride-sharing.
“Our government is looking for every opportunity to respond to the needs of consumers, to support the free market and competition in the industry, while also ensuring travelers are secure in the knowledge that they pay to ride in vehicles that are safe, reliable and properly insured,” Helps said.
In the Greater Toronto Area, Aviva Canada is set to offer ride-sharing insurance that will “protect both passengers and drivers.” This, and City Council’s promise to issue a single bylaw that encompasses both licensed taxis and services like Uber should go a long way to creating a framework other cities can use to legitimize Uber across the country.
