Claire Trevena, Minister  of Transportation and Infrastructure, has issued the following statement on the motion to define the terms and conditions of the regulations for ride-hailing:

“The Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations will be authorized to examine, inquire into and make recommendations on regulations regarding app-based ride-hailing. The committee will be authorized to meet for up to three days to hear and will be able to hear from witnesses.

”I thank the members from the B.C. Green caucus for their work on this file and recommendations for the committee. Like all legislative committees, this will see members from all parties working together – and it is important that we all work together to keep people safe on our roads, while allowing for new, convenient transportation services to enter the market.

“This legislation is a milestone that gets ride-hailing right for British Columbia. My priority is to make sure British Columbians are safer on the roads, and together, with the committee, we will make sure we get the options British Columbians want, while making sure their rides are safe. These priorities are shared with all parties, and I look forward to receiving the recommendations of the committee.”

Quick Facts:

• The motion states the committee shall limit its consideration to forming recommendations on the following:
  • criteria to consider when establishing boundaries;
  • appropriate policies to balance the supply of service with consumer demand, including the application of the Passenger Transportation Board’s current public convenience and necessity regime as it pertains to transportation network services; and 
  • criteria to be considered when establishing price and fare regimes that balance affordability with reasonable business rates of return for service providers.
• In addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations, the committee shall be empowered to:
  • appoint one or more sub-committees and to refer to such sub-committees any of the matters referred to the committee;
  • sit during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following session and during any sitting of the House; 
  • adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and
  • retain personnel as required to assist the committee.
• The committee shall report to the legislative assembly no later than March 31, 2019. The committee will then deposit the original of its reports with the clerk of the legislative assembly during a period of adjournment. Upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or at the next following session, the chair shall present all reports to the legislative assembly.