BC Liberals introduce bill that they say would bring ride-sharing to B.C. by Valentine’s Day

Less than week after the province’s NDP government laid out plans that aims to have ridesharing in B.C. by the fall of 2019, their opposition is saying they can do better.

The BC Liberals are proposing a separate piece of legislation that would bring ridesharing in by Valentine’s Day 2019.

The Miscellaneous Statutes (Passenger Transportation Services) Amendment Act, 2018 will be introduced as a Private Member Bill.

As the NDP government ends debate on their “maybe-never” #ridesharing legislation, the @BCLiberalCaucus are proposing a separate piece of legislation that would bring #ridesharing to B.C. by Valentine’s Day. Full Statement - https://t.co/2i3bVbMpnE #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/IVXZlnXKbm

— BC Liberal Caucus (@BCLiberalCaucus) November 26, 2018

“The NDP claims that it will take another year to two years before insurance is ready and ridesharing companies can even apply for a license,” said Todd Stone, Kamloops-South Thompson MLA. “The legislation we’re proposing today shows that claim is completely untrue.”

“We have a ready-to-go framework that will allow British Columbians to take their Valentine on a date in an Uber or Lyft.”

According to the Liberals, Uber has confirmed that the NDP’s legislation on ridesharing would prevent the company from operating in B.C.

Stone began working on ridesharing legislation and insurance in 2014, while he was the province’s transportation minister.

The Liberals said in a statement that Stone carefully developed a framework that modernized the taxi industry while opening the door to ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft.

Today's bill would mean that ICBC wouldn't have to start from scratch on developing ridesharing insurance and could use the framework already created by Stone and the Liberals.

BC can have ridesharing by Valentine's Day. https://t.co/vHY0BgIJot

RETWEET if you agree the NDP and Greens should support the BC Liberal Plan. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/F0Iwoz4Unc

— BC Liberals | Opportunity for all of BC (@bcliberals) November 26, 2018

“Following 18 months of delay and duplication, the NDP has brought forward legislation that kills any chance of ridesharing companies coming to B.C.,” says Stone.

“Under the NDP, it appears the soonest we could have ridesharing is one year from now, or maybe two years, or more likely, never.”

According to the Liberals, their Private Members Bill paves the way for ride-sharing in B.C. and allows for the following:

• A level playing field for existing and new operators including driver and vehicle standards, insurance requirements and service and supply flexibility.
• Removal of restrictions related to supply so that the number of cars on B.C.’s roads from both existing and new operators would be determined by consumer demand.
• Removal of boundary restrictions so drivers have the same access to provide services wherever and whenever a passenger needs a ride.
• Removal of local government ability to require chauffer permits, business licenses, and other restrictive requirements.
• Standardized provincial licensing, safety, enforcement and consumer protection requirements.
• Removal of red tape and overlap within the system which will save all drivers money.
• Provisions to ensure availability of accessible services.
• A framework for replacing the requirement of a Class 4 driver’s license with Class 5 for all drivers of existing and new operators.

It would also include requirements like criminal record, driver and vehicle checks, as well as drivers to be at least 19-years-old with an unrestricted driver’s license.