In what can only be described as a political stunt, the BC Liberals introduced a private member’s bill today entitled: Miscellaneous Statutes (Passenger Transportation Services) Amendment Act, 2018.

This private member’s bill was introduced by Jordan Sturdy and apparently represents a legislative framework that the BC Liberals would have brought in to enable ridesharing if they had won the last election. Now all things being equal, you might find it odd that I voted against it at first reading. But I felt it was important for me to signal that I am not interested in political stunts but rather want to advance good public policy.

It was clearly a political stunt for a number of reasons:

1) Proponents of ridesharing have been trying to bring it to BC since 2012 while the BC Liberals were in government. The BC Liberals ignored the file and had ample time to advance their views when they were in government. It’s odd that they chose the day before the legislature rises to introduce legislation.

2) I twice brought in a private member’s bill under the BC Liberals that would have enabled ridesharing in 2016 and 2017. Neither time did the BC Liberals see fit to call my bill for debate. If the BC Liberals really wanted to debate this issue with the goal of advancing ridesharing they would have called my bills for debate in either April 2016 or  February 2017 (prior to the provincial election).

3) The BC Greens negotiated with the BC NDP to establish an all-party committee that met with stakeholders last year. In fact, Jordan Sturdy was on that committee. Why were the issued raised in this bill not brought forward through that process?

4) Finally, the BC Liberals have been serving in opposition now for well over a year. If they really were sincere with their desire to introduce ridesharing, why did they not introduce their bill sometime over the last year? I introduced my bill a third time but this time under the NDP government last fall. The BC Liberals waited instead to table their bill one day before the house rises.

Right now in the Legislature there is a government bill before the house whose purpose  is to enable ridesharing in BC. The BC Greens have a number of substantive concerns with this bill and are working diligently to ensure that appropriate changes are made. We are in near daily contact with two major ridesharing companies in order to hear from them and to keep them abreast of our activities.

My colleagues Adam and Sonia voted with the BC Liberals on first reading (see vote results to my right). The BC NDP followed my lead and voted against it. First reading passed (thanks to the support of my colleagues) and so the bill will make it to the order papers. But it will die there as tomorrow is the last day the legislature sits before the February 2019 throne speech.

At the end of the day, my colleague Adam Olsen brought forward an important amendment that passed. This amendment greatly improved the Passenger Transportation Board’s test for approving ride-hailing licenses, adding much needed flexibility. Below I reproduce the media release that our office issued in response to the passing of our amendment.

Media Release

B.C. Greens pass major amendment to government’s ride-hailing legislation
For immediate release
November 26, 2018

VICTORIA, B.C. – Adam Olsen, B.C. Green Party spokesperson for transportation, is
celebrating the passage of his amendment to the government’s legislation to enable ride-hailing
in B.C.

“This amendment greatly improves the PTB’s test for approving ride-hailing license, adding
much needed flexibility,” said Olsen.

The amendment changes the way the PTB applies its three part test when it is approving an
application. The new language ensures that the board can consider the three components more
dynamically, factoring in the reality that ride-hailing presents a new business model for the
passenger directed vehicle industry. This change doesn’t require the PTB to change its
practices immediately, but ensures that as new policy direction is given, it has the legislative
flexibility to ensure it can embrace innovation while maintaining its role as a regulator.

“Although regulating ride-hailing through the PTB is not the approach we would have taken had
we been in government, as an opposition party our job is to improve legislation and find a path
forward to deliver on our priorities.

“Our goal is to strike the right balance between our responsibility to ensure public safety, a fair
playing field for business and delivering on our promise to make ride-hailing available for British
Columbians. Our view is that the government’s approach was excessively prohibitive, while the
B.C. Liberals were in favour of almost complete deregulation. Other jurisdictions with lax
ride-hailing regimes have experienced issues and it’s important that we learn from their
experiences. I believe this amendment, as well as the agreement by the Minister to amend the
terms of reference for the legislative committee that will recommend regulations to include
licensing requirements, are positive steps towards a fair and balanced ride-hailing regime.”
Olsen also noted that much work remains to be done in the legislative committee that will
recommend ride-hailing regulations to government.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues from all parties on the legislative committee to
ensure B.C.’s ride-hailing regime strikes the right balance. Our current view is that Class 5 with
additional requirements to ensure public safety would be the best approach, and that is the
regulation we will encourage the B.C. Liberals and the B.C. NDP to join us with recommending
to the Minister. I hope the government will accept the recommendations put forward by a
majority of the committee, as they will represent a majority of seats in the House.”

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Media contact
Jillian Oliver, Press Secretary
+1 250-882-6187 | jillian.oliver@leg.bc.ca