REGINA – Popular ride-sharing app called Uber, which connects riders and drivers, and is now considering expanding its services to Saskatchewan.
Users create an account, request a pickup and often pay less for the ride than the going cab-fare.
The company currently operates in four Canadian cities and company spokesperson Lauren Altmin explained they are hearing of a demand for alternative transportation options in Regina.
“For months we’ve been contacted by residents in Regina who’ve opened up the app and are asking us to come to town,” she explained. “We’re excited about the Regina market and looking forward to exploring options further.”
To operate legally within Saskatchewan, the manager of vehicle registration policy at SGI, Curtis Mead, said Uber would be required to obtain a taxi license.
“They have to have a class Pt3 plate, they have to have a million dollars in liability insurance, and the driver has to be properly licensed. Anything else is regulated at the municipal level,” he added.
Uber has been in talks with the City of Regina, and city officials said they are monitoring developments in other jurisdictions.
The company offers a variety of services, but their ride-share service UberX hasn’t been without controversy.
Toronto is seeking a court injunction to shut the company down within city limits, citing its unregulated status, inadequate insurance and risks to riders’ safety.
Ottawa has also cracked down on Uber drivers with a ticketing blitz, and Montreal declared the service illegal.
Altmin said all Uber drivers undergo screening including a criminal background check, as well as every driver is rated.
As for regulations, she says Uber is a technology company, not a taxi company but it hopes to work with policymakers to develop up to date regulations.
“It’s important to remember that taxi and limo regulations we’re often developed when the ubiquity of cell phones and smartphone apps were never imagined,” she added.
It appears Canada’s Competition Bureau agrees, stating on its website that municipalities should explore whether less restrictive regulations could address their concerns and consider the impact policies have on competitions and ultimately consumer’s choice.
A number of taxi companies across the country have also started an online campaign that raises safety concerns about Uber and opposes to what they believe is no longer a level playing field.
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