Latest news with #UberCanada
The Province
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Province
Uber offers work to drivers in smaller communities across B.C.
Drivers offered a $500 incentive if they book 10 rides in their first month Uber Canada says its services will be available across B.C. as of May 28, 2025. Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP via Getty Images The ride-share app company Uber is expanding its service to all of B.C. — not just Metro Vancouver, Kelowna and Victoria. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors On Wednesday, the U.S.-based company said the app would be available across the entire province, but would be limited by how many drivers in smaller communities decide to join. As an incentive, the company is offering $500 to any eligible driver who makes 10 trips within the first four weeks of joining. Uber launched in Metro Vancouver in January 2020 after a long and winding road dealing with provincial regulations. 'As we head into a busy summer season, we are excited to bring ride-share to more British Columbians. Residents and visitors alike now have a safe, affordable, and reliable option to help get them where they need to go, when they need to,' said Michael van Hemmen, general manager of Uber Canada. 'And for those with a safe driving record, a flexible opportunity to earn money on their own time.' Uber's expansion is supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada, the British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association, and Hope Air, which flies people in remote communities to city hospitals. Uber launched its services in Victoria and Kelowna in June 2023. dcarrigg@ Read More News Vancouver Canucks News Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks
CBC
10-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Toronto taxi, ride-hailing companies ask to be included in 'Buy local' campaign
Social Sharing Three Toronto taxi companies and one ride-hailing service are urging council to include their industry in the city's newly adopted "Buy Local, Buy Canadian" campaign as U.S. tariff threats continue. And they want council to ban the use of U.S. based ride-sourcing apps on city property or for city business. Managers of Beck Taxi, Co-op Cabs, Toronto 1 Taxi and Canadian ride-hailing platform HOVR, all of whom signed a letter to council on Monday, say spending on local services encourages local economic development. The managers say U.S. tech companies, including Uber, have taken over too many Canadian markets by using lobbying efforts to reshape municipal rules governing vehicles-for-hire. "Canadian companies can easily step in to connect Torontonians with their next ride home," the letter says. "Local companies will work with municipalities to support common-sense protecting public safety, promote affordability and foster a healthy, diverse industry — rather than trying to dismantle them." On Feb. 5, council passed a motion to develop a comprehensive plan that would urge Toronto residents and businesses to support local companies in response to the tariffs threatened by the U.S. The "Buy Local, Buy Canadian" campaign is an attempt to protect Toronto jobs, according to the motion that passed. The letter says many local taxi companies and HOVR offer app-based ride-hailing and payments. Beck, for example, has its own app that operates in a similar fashion to other ride-hailing companies. The letter also urges council to adopt "partnership, procurement and staff reimbursement" policies that prioritize local vehicle-for-hire companies, though it include examples of what those policies might look like. Uber says drivers, delivery people are Canadians In response to the letter, Uber Canada spokesperson Keerthana Rang said Uber drivers and delivery people are Canadians. Uber Canada is run by Canadians for Canadians, Rang said. "There are 180,000 drivers and delivery people who earn money on Uber in this country. They live, they work, they spend in this country," Rang said. There are also 5,000 staff in Canada who work on Uber's ride-hailing and delivery platform, Rang added. But Kristine Hubbard, operations manager for Beck Taxi Limited, said in an interview on Monday the city needs to do more to support Toronto-based taxi companies. "Every taxi you see is a small independent, licensed business in the city, in this country, and so, I do think if we're talking about supporting local Canadian businesses, small businesses in particular, this is the perfect opportunity," Hubbard said. "Let's stop supporting these giant tech companies who are siphoning money out of our country." Hubbard said it's difficult for drivers and delivery people who work for Uber and Lyft to earn a living based on the apps. She also said Uber is clogging up Toronto streets and taking money from the TTC. "When you use the Uber app, you might pay $30, but the drivers are getting $12 and the rest is going out of our country." City 'examining' vehicle-for-hire services In a statement on Monday, Zeus Eden, spokesperson for the office of Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, said the city is "closely examining" vehicle-for-hire services and has sent a rideshare licensing plan back to staff for review. "We are reviewing options with the Mayor's Economic Action Team about how best to support workers and businesses in all sectors in response to Donald Trump's unjustified trade war." Eden said the mayor supports taking a "Team Canada approach" and encourages Toronto residents to consider buying Canadian in their daily purchases.
