EDMONTON- In just days, a new ride-sharing bylaw is set to take effect in Alberta’s capital, and as one industry leader says it still hasn’t received a green light from the province turn its engines over, another says it is revved up to win over customers.
Last month, city councillors passed a bylaw making Edmonton the first city in Canada to legislate ride sharing. The new rules kick in on Tuesday but Uber says the province still needs to sign off on its insurance policy.
READ MORE: Edmonton becomes first city in Canada to legislate ride sharing
“The insurance policy that we have is a commercial policy that works for ride sharing and quite frankly, doesn’t add any material costs to drivers,” Ramit Kar, Uber Alberta’s general manager, said.
Ride-sharing companies need the provincially-approved insurance in order to legally operate under the bylaw.
Meanwhile, local ride-sharing startup TappCar says it is ready to jockey for market position in what some speculate will quickly become a lucrative industry in Edmonton.
“It will be very competitive with the Uber and the traditional taxi services,” TappCar’s Pascal Ryffel said. “We’re really hoping that people get behind us.”
Uber told Global News if the province does not sign off on its insurance policy, the company will cease operations in Edmonton.
“There’s nothing really more on our end we can do,” Ward 1 Councillor Andrew Knack said. “We set up the bylaw, they (Alberta government) just needs to either rule one way or the other. It is up to them.”
A statement from the province’s finance ministry Friday did not suggest whether or not Uber can expect to have its insurance policy approved.
“The Superintendent of Insurance has been involved in constructive discussions with Intact insurance,” the statement said. “The issue remains under review and no agreement been reached.”
With files from Vinesh Pratap.
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