Licensing rules for drivers still apply as ride-hailing gets closer to approval in B.C.

The province says it has finished creating a regulatory framework for ride-hailing in British Columbia but the Class 4 driver certification remains a sticking point. David Zura explains.

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — The provincial government has finalized regulations and insurance rates, so app-based ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft can be road-worthy by the end of this year.

Starting September 3rd, those companies will be able to apply for approval with the Passenger Transportation Board and that depends on all drivers having the same licence as taxi operators.

RELATED: Ride-hail companies still want access to B.C. despite licensing rules for drivers

The chair of the Traffic Safety Committee for the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police Neil Dubord welcomes these rules following numerous consultations since the NDP government promised to bring ride-hailing to B.C.

“We want to make sure all of the people can get into those cars and feel perfectly safe and can travel anywhere without any worry about their public safety. That’s certainly a priority from our stand-point,” he says.

“We believe that a Class 4 licence does give a necessary level of scrutiny to all drivers to make sure that they are safe drivers and have the proper driving records that will allow them to be safe on the roads and in addition, the vulnerable persons security check will assure rider safety.”

Dubord, who is the police chief in Delta, says criminal record checks are also vital.

“The extra level of scrutiny on someone’s licence will provide us with another perspective that will hopefully make our roads safer, so we feel fairly confident that we have been consulted enough to be able to have input into the process,” he says.

North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma, who heads up the all-party committee responsible for approval, says annual licence fees will be $5,000 and vehicles which can’t be accessed by disabled riders will be charged 30 cents per trip.

RELATED: Cities not able to block ride-hailing in B.C.

Drivers are also subject to annual inspections if their vehicle has more than 40 thousand kilometres, and ride-hailing cars can’t be more than 10 years old.

Ma also tells NEWS 1130 the Class 4 licence requirement is “not negotiable”: violators could be fined up to $100,000. Annual ICBC rates will be similar to what cab drivers currently pay.

She adds the Passenger Transportation Board must determine how many licences will be approved, geographic limits and minimum fares –with those details slated to be released later this summer.

Uber and Lyft haven’t confirmed plans to operate in B.C.

Executives Uber and Lyft say stronger licensing makes it difficult for them to operate in this province.

A statement issued by Uber Canada’s Michael van Hemmen suggests information released on Monday will be reviewed to see how it may “impact our ability to provide British Columbians with the same ridesharing experience they already enjoy in cities across North America including Seattle, Calgary and Toronto.”

He goes on to say the Class 4 licence requirement is “red tape that Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec, and Manitoba all agree is unnecessary” and “BC allows Operation Red Nose drivers to use a Class 5 licence.”

Canada’s managing director for Lyft, Aaron Zifkin, says they’re now reviewing regulations that could limit access to this market.

“Vancouver and B.C. unfortunately is one of the largest jurisdictions without ride-sharing and so, we’re hopeful that we’ll get a great regime in place here, and we’ll be able to operate the same level of service people have come to expect and love across North America,” says Zifkin. “When restaurants and bars exit late at night or there’s a big event like a hockey game or concert, that’s when that type of supply is really there and I think, being a B.C. resident, we’ve all had experiences where we’re trying to get home and there isn’t a ride for us.”

He adds nine out of ten Lyft operators are active fewer than 20 hours per week, so the Class 4 requirement is too harsh.

“Certainly concerning. The trouble that we’re trying to solve for is a lack of supply. And if we’ve got Class 4 in place, it’s not going to be solving the root cause, and the root issue that we’re actually all trying to address here, so hopefully we can work together and come up with a great situation here for the residents of B.C.”

Zifkin says research by ICBC shows there’s not much difference when it comes to crash stats for cabbies and ride-hailing drivers.

Transportation Minister Claire Trevena has repeatedly said anyone expecting to profit from transporting passenger must have a commercial driving licence.

Ma says she’s confident interest is strong from transportation networks wanting access to B.C. and she’s heard nothing from Uber or Lyft to suggest otherwise.

As for how new regulations might impact Kater, government staff say the Surrey-based company already offering app-based rides is not considered a licensee because Kater currently operates under established guidelines for taxi companies.

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