Uber sets launch date for Victoria, Kelowna

Ride-hailing giant Uber has finally announced its start date for two major B.C. cities.

Uber will begin operating in Victoria and Kelowna on Tuesday, June 6.

The service goes live at noon for riders and drivers.

Uber arrives in Victoria and Kelowna – as well as Chilliwack – following years of trying to break into the market.

Uber had applied several times to operate in these regions, but was denied by the B.C. Passenger Transportation Safety Board (PTB), which said there was not enough demand for the service, and that local taxi and ride-hailing companies needed more time to recover from the pandemic.

In 2022, Uber changed tactics and applied for a licence transfer from another ride-hailing company, Vancouver-based ReRyde, which had already been approved to operate in these areas.

The approval process for a licence transfer is much more lenient than approval of a new licence altogether, and on May 10 the PTB approved the licence transfer.

In its decision, the PTB said the licence transfer application received "significant interest" from local stakeholders, such as taxi companies and other ride-hailing operators.

Many argued against the licence transfer, saying that Uber was circumventing the PTB's previous decision, and that it couldn't make a proper business case since it was taking over the licence of a ride-hailing company that had yet to begin operating in Victoria and Kelowna.

Meanwhile, some submissions voiced support, such as Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada, which said that Uber provided another means of transportation for people who are impaired, and the Victoria International Airport, which said not enough transportation options were available in the city.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Homeowners brace for mortgage payment shock amid higher-for-longer rate outlook

From ultra-low interest rates that led to a huge spike in real estate demand to the speed with which interest rates shot up to levels not seen in a generation, it's been hard to keep up with the shifting landscape for mortgage holders.

India tells Canada to withdraw 41 diplomats, report says

India has told Canada that it must repatriate 41 diplomats by Oct. 10, the Financial Times reported. Ties between India and Canada have become strained over Canadian suspicion that Indian government agents had a role in the June murder in Canada of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Diwali fireworks advisory issued despite warnings it might be discriminatory: emails

An Environment Canada advisory that singled out Diwali fireworks as a reason to prepare for poor air quality last October was issued despite multiple warnings from some staff about it being discriminatory.

Trump seethes through the start of trial in New York lawsuit accusing him of lying about his wealth

Aggrieved and defiant, former U.S. president Donald Trump sat through hours of sometimes testy opening statements Monday in a fraud lawsuit that could cost him control of Trump Tower and other prized properties.

New study shows where you fall on new internet addiction spectrum

Researchers have come up with categories for people who are addicted to the internet and for those who are at risk.

Dry grasslands have been serving as an unexpected carbon sink in recent decades due to fire reductions: study

Dry grasslands may have been providing an unseen helping hand to slow the rate of climate warning, according to a new study which found that these grasslands have been storing more heat-trapping carbon than previously known.

India police search journalists' homes and offices in the country's latest raids on media

Indian police raided the offices of a news website that's under investigation for allegedly receiving funds from China, as well as the homes of several of its journalists, in what critics described as an attack on one of India's few remaining independent news outlets.

Paralyzed varsity quarterback makes emotional return to Vancouver field

Two months after varsity quarterback Gavin Kamoschinski broke his neck, the 17-year-old returned to the football field Saturday to inspire his teammates.
'It was heartbreaking': Okanagan family targeted by thieves after losing home to wildfire

After a family from B.C.'s Okanagan lost their home to the McDougall Creek wildfire, looters decided to ransack what little they had left.
Cities should cover the costs when bears killed on their land, say B.C. advocates

An animal rights charity has suggested that B.C. cities, towns and perhaps even homeowners should be charged each time a conservation officer is required to deal with a nuisance bear that’s habituated to human food or garbage.

Edmonton

Alberta launches respiratory virus dashboard with COVID-19, influenza and RSV data

After limited updates on respiratory virus statistics, the Alberta government launched its COVID-19, influenza and RSV dashboard on Monday.
Alberta doesn't plan to increase minimum wage as 6 provinces raise theirs

Six provinces raised their minimum wage this weekend but Alberta has no plans to adjust its base pay of $15 per hour introduced in 2018.
Homicide detectives investigating death outside downtown Edmonton shelter

A 39-year-old man is dead after he was found injured outside a downtown Edmonton shelter Sunday afternoon.

Toronto

Adolescent ER visits in Ontario for eating disorders saw big jump during pandemic: study

The biggest jump in Ontario emergency room visits and hospitalizations for eating disorders during the first 30 months of the pandemic was seen in adolescents aged 10 to 17, according to a new study.
Blue Jays on the road for best-of-three wild-card series with Twins

The Toronto Blue Jays kick off their American League wild-card playoff series with the Minnesota Twins today at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Record-breaking heat possible today in Toronto

Toronto could see record-breaking heat today as the city continues to experience unseasonably warm temperatures for the start of fall.

Calgary

2 Calgary weekend shootings believed to be connected, targeted: police

Police believe two shootings in southwest and southeast Calgary over the weekend are connected and targeted the same person.
Grizzly bear attacks rare, but a risk in wilderness, experts say after Banff deaths

Grizzly bear experts say fatal attacks are extremely rare, but it's always a risk when people venture into the wilderness.
Alberta launches respiratory virus dashboard with COVID-19, influenza and RSV data

After limited updates on respiratory virus statistics, the Alberta government launched its COVID-19, influenza and RSV dashboard on Monday.

Montreal

Montreal to construct more parks, 'sponge' roads to withstand rain

Over the next two years, the City of Montreal says it plans to construct almost 30 parks and 400 "sponge" pavements to make them more resistant to heavy rainfall.
Man in hospital after stabbing in Lachine

A 43-year-old man is in hospital after a stabbing in Montreal's Lachine borough.
Woman, 79, killed at Quebec seniors residence; suspect, 81, under watch in hospital

A 79-year-old woman was killed on Saturday in a seniors' residence in Terrebonne, in the Lanaudière region north of Montreal. An 81-year-old man is considered a suspect in the case, but he is still unconscious in hospital.

Atlantic

Sunday night structure fire in Saint John displaces 8 residents

The fire prompted a temporary shelter-in-place notice from the City of Saint John Sunday night due to smoke in the city.
Homeowners brace for mortgage payment shock amid higher-for-longer rate outlook

From ultra-low interest rates that led to a huge spike in real estate demand to the speed with which interest rates shot up to levels not seen in a generation, it's been hard to keep up with the shifting landscape for mortgage holders.
Responsible Seafood Summit underway in Saint John

The four-day Responsible Seafood Summit features delegates from six continents, and will focus on the shared responsibilities and goals from all levels of the global seafood supply chain.

Winnipeg

'High interest election': Less than 24 hours until Manitobans go to the polls

The clock is counting down on the provincial election campaign trail, and it's been anhistoric year for advance voting as a record 200,790 Manitobans cast their ballots ahead of time.
'We are dead inside': Mother of 3 lost to alleged drunk driver

A Winnipeg family is in mourning after a mother of three was killed by a alleged drunk driver last week.
5 dead after single-vehicle crash near Swan River, Man.

Swan River RCMP are investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed five people in western Manitoba Saturday afternoon.

Kitchener

'There are thousands of us': Sixties Scoop survivor shares story following National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Tauni Sheldon is often referred to as “the picture-perfect baby” with full cheeks, almond-shaped eyes and sporting a frilly white dress.
Four teens arrested in connection to Pride flag taken from school and burned: Police

Waterloo regional police have arrested four teenagers after they say a Pride flag was taken from a Kitchener high school, trampled on, and burned.
'Our communities really answer our calls': Funds for dog's emergency surgery raised in hours

A fundraiser for a one-year-old's emergency surgery only needed five hours to meet its goal.

Regina

After years of waiting, construction of Grenfell long term care home begins

Following years of concern around long term care in the town of Grenfell, construction on a new home for the elderly has officially broken ground.
Suspect in Moose Jaw home invasion faces additional charges

More charges have been laid in connection to a home invasion that saw a man shot and stabbed in Moose Jaw on Sept. 13.
Grizzly bear attacks rare, but a risk in wilderness, experts say after Banff deaths

Grizzly bear experts say fatal attacks are extremely rare, but it's always a risk when people venture into the wilderness.

Barrie

Bradford Library workers strike ends, case goes to arbitration

After ten weeks of strike action, library workers in Bradford West Gwillimbury will be returning to work.
Fire causes $2 million in damage to Muskoka cottage

Muskoka Lakes fire crews spent several hours battling a large cottage fire on Camp Jackson Road in Muskoka, on Sunday.
Food truck explosion prompts investigation in Gravenhurst

Emergency crews are investigating after a food truck exploded in Gravenhurst Sunday morning.

Saskatoon

Sask. First Nation threatens to evict residents of suspected drug houses

A Saskatchewan First Nation has declared a state of emergency after a spate of seven overdoses in a single day.
Saskatoon Transit asking to hire 6 support officers to patrol buses

Saskatoon Transit is renewing calls for its own dedicated team of community support officers (CSOs) to help respond to incidents on buses and transit terminals.
Truth and Reconciliation Day still not a recognized stat in Sask.

While some provinces and territories have joined in recognizing Truth and Reconciliation Day as a statutory holiday, Saskatchewan remains outside of that fold.

Northern Ontario

Teen dies in ATV rollover on Wahanpitae First Nation near Sudbury

Tragedy has struck another northern Ontario family, as a 14-year-old boy from Wahnapitae First Nation was killed in an ATV rollover marking the 10th death in the region involving an off-road vehicle since July.
Northern Ont. driver crashed after fleeing RCMP, throwing beer cans out window

A 35-year-old northern Ontario driver is charged with impaired driving after allegedly evading Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba, throwing beer cans out the window and assaulting his passenger before crashing vehicle into a ditch.
Sudbury police use surveillance video to catch trio of mugging suspects

A violent attack on man lying on the ground in a downtown Sudbury underpass tunnel was captured on surveillance video and police are looking for the third suspect who fled.

Uber sets launch date for Victoria, Kelowna

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Stay Connected