Ride-hailing companies in B.C. should not be bound by caps on the number of vehicles they operate or geographical boundaries, or require class 4 licences, an all-party government committee on ride hailing has recommended.

Liberal members of the committee expressed skepticism that ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft will be operating in B.C. by the end of the year as the government has promised.

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“If the government doesn’t accept these recommendations and doesn’t accept that there should be no caps, no boundaries and class 5 licences, you will not see real, true ride hailing in British Columbia,” said Stephanie Cadieux, Liberal MLA for Surrey South and deputy chair of the select standing committee on Crown corporations, which released its ride-hailing report on Tuesday.

“In order to get ride hailing onthe road for British Columbians, as British Columbians have and are demanding, government can’t get in the way.”

In November, the government announced its ride-hailing regulatory scheme, but the Liberals, Greens and ride-hailing companies said the rules were so restrictive, the industry would not be able to offer competitive prices.

The Passenger Transportation Amendment Act, which passed last year, gives more power to the Passenger Transportation Board to set fares and make decisions on the number of licences and the boundaries in which taxis and ride-hailing vehicles operate.

A majority of committee members recommended that the government relax its rules on requiring ride-hailing drivers to maintain class 4 passenger licences, which is the same class of licence that applies to people who drive buses and passenger vans. The Liberal and Green committee members found that class 5 licences, issued to most motorists, would be enough.

Class 5 licences were recommended in a report released in summer 2018 by industry expert Dan Hara.

The majority of ride-hailing drivers work on a part-time basis, so requiring a higher classification of licence would be prohibitive to many drivers, Cadieux said. It could also discourage female drivers, who are often requested specifically by female passengers, she said.

Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said the government is willing to be flexible on vehicle caps and boundaries, but is firm on class 4 licences.

“I will not move on class 4 licences. I think people’s safety is paramount and class 4 licence adds to that issue of safety.”

Trevena cited Alberta and New York as jurisdictions that require ride-hailing drivers to have a commercial vehicle licence. She said anyone driving a vehicle to make money should have to obtain a class 4 licence.

Companies will be able to apply for ride-hailing permits this summer, Trevena said, and she assured British Columbians they’ll be able to call a ride-hailing company through an app by the end of the year.

Adam Olsen, Green Party representative on the committee, said it was careful to strike a balance between safety and creating a fair playing field.

Lyft, Uber and advocacy group Ridesharing Now for B.C. urged the government to accept the recommendations.

“We hear every day from business owners, employees, visitors, friends and associates that they want ride sharing that permits flexibility, affordability, part-time employment opportunities, safer streets, and the ability to use this platform for both business growth and attracting and retaining employees,” said Ian Tostenson, a spokesman for the group.

The committee is made up of four NDP MLAs, four Liberals and one Green. Ravi Kahlon, NDP MLA for Delta North, recused himself from final deliberations because his father owns a taxi in Victoria.

Cadieux said she is “hopeful but not optimistic” that the government will accept the recommendations.

kderosa@timescolonist.com