British Columbia plans to introduce ride-sharing in time for the holiday season in December, Transportation Minister Todd Stone announced on Tuesday.

"British Columbians have told us that they want ride sharing services, and we're moving forward to make it happen,” Stone said.

The province will also introduce a number of improvements to the taxi industry to ensure a level playing field.

B.C. will invest up to $1-million to help the taxi industry develop an app and allow the public to hail and pay for a cab with a smartphone in the same way they would for a ride-sharing service.

Taxis will retain exclusive rights to be hired by phone, at a taxi stand or flagged down at the curb.

"Over the past year, we've had some very important conversations with taxi companies and drivers who told us that we need to ensure fairness so they are able to compete effectively with ride sharing providers,” said Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for TransLink.

ICBC will invest up to $3.5-million in the taxi sector to install crash avoidance technology in all B.C. taxis.

The province will require the same safety standards for both taxis and ride-sharing providers in order to protect the public and drivers.

Ride-sharing companies will be responsible for maintaining records that prove:

  • All drivers have an unrestricted driver's licence (no graduated licences) and are at least 19 years of age.
  • All drivers have passed a criminal record check for past convictions of violent or sexual offenses as well as other offenses.
  • All drivers have passed a safe driving record check.
  • Vehicles have passed regular mechanical inspections.

According to Uber, it has drivers in 40 Canadian cities and starting in December Victoria will be one of them.

The city’s mayor Lisa Helps says she welcomes the ride-sharing service.

“I think we do need it, tech is our number one industry here in Victoria and it’s a huge driver economically for the province,” Helps said.

NDP leader John Horgan says the announcement is a political move to create chaos before the May election.

Horgan doesn’t support the service and if elected he says he will conduct further consultation with people in the taxi industry to try and find a fairer solution.