Uber troubles Quebec, B.C., but thrives in rest of Canada
Ride-hailing company continues negotiations in Quebec, B.C., despite over 2 million users in Canada
By Katie Li, Oct. 17, 2017
Uber backed out on threats to leave Quebec Friday, citing a willingness to negotiate strict regulations and mandatory training for drivers imposed by the government. (Photo courtesy Wikimedia)
Ride-hailing company Uber backed out of threats to cease operations in Quebec Friday, citing that the company would like to continue negotiations with the province.
In September, the province announced the renewal of a pilot project that would require 35 hours of mandatory training for drivers, police background checks and annual vehicle inspections.
Uber Quebec’s general manager Jean-Nicolas Guillemette responded, announcing that the multinational company would leave the province on Oct. 14 if the regulations would be enforced.
At a press conference in September, Guillemette said the government was imposing the same rules on to Uber as with the existing taxi industry.
Watch: Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre reacts to Uber’s threat of leaving the province. (Video courtesy CTV News via Youtube)
“I don’t think it helps us to move forward and to serve the population,” he told reporters.
But in a statement released Friday, a day before Uber’s announced departure, the company said it would continue to negotiate with the government before training requirements come into effect in January.
“We recognize that there is an opportunity to establish a constructive dialogue aimed at finding a lasting solution for riders and drivers in Quebec,” the statement read.
Uber not available in B.C. until next year
In British Columbia, Premier John Horgan promised ride-hailing services would be available to the province by the end of the year, as part of his election campaign in May 2017.
However, transport minister Claire Trevena said an industry leader had been hired by the government to create a solution, and is not expected to be finished until early 2018.
While the NDP said the party did not oppose ride-hailing services during the B.C. provincial elections in May, the party said consultation with the taxi industry and other stakeholders would be needed.
B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver announced plans to introduce a legislation Thursday enabling ride-hailing services to be operational in a “regulated fashion”.
B.C. Premier John Horgan, then only a candidate, at a campaign rally in April 2017. (Photo courtesy BC NDP/Flickr)
“It has been five years since ridesharing was first introduced into B.C.,” Weaver said in a statement Monday.
“All three parties agreed to bring in ridesharing in the last election and have now had significant time to consult stakeholders and assess the various ramifications of regulating this industry in British Columbia.”
Over 2 million Canadians using ride-sharing services already
While disagreements in Quebec and B.C. have either threatened Uber services, or halted operations completely, ride-hailing services continue to thrive in other parts of Canada.
Today, Uber operates in 16 Canadian cities, across four provinces.
In February, Statistics Canada released a report that found seven per cent of Canadians used peer-to-peer ride services between November 2015 to October 2016, amounting to over 2.6 million people.
The service was most popular amongst younger Canadians between the age of 25 to 34, with 14.6 per cent of the age group reporting that they had used a ride-hailing service, followed by the 18 to 24 age group, with 13.5 per cent.
Ride-hailing services were used most frequently in the Ottawa and Gatineau area, followed by Toronto and Edmonton.
In the 12-month period leading up to October 2016, the report found $241 million was spent on ride-hailing services, averaging to $122 per Canadian user.
