Prince George City Councillor Brian Skakun is onside with the provincial government on a controversial issue where it will be mandatory to have a Class 4 driver’s license in order to be an Uber or Lyft driver in BC.
However, the move has been met with some backlash as others in the political sector are opposed to the requirement stating this leaves out an entire group of drivers looking to make some extra cash who only have a Class 5.
Ridesharing companies can apply to operate as of September 3rd with the opportunity to hit the ground running later in the month.
Skakun tells MyPGNow.com the process isn’t all that much different for the local taxi drivers.
“I think it is totally appropriate. The taxi drivers currently have to go through the same process and on top of that, the taxi driver’s have to have a chauffer’s permit and that’s clearance from the RCMP in order to drive, anytime you try and improve the regulations for public safety for these types of services is a good idea”
Skakun is of the opinion there’s an appetite for these services in our region and the regulations between these companies as well as taxi services should be pretty close to the same.
“There’s a number of people that I have talked to that have said they want these ridesharing services and I think the main thing is that whether it’s Uber, Lyft or any of the taxi companies there has to be some sort of regulations that encompass them all and that are similar.”
On Tuesday, Minister of Transportation Claire Trevena told MyPGNow in an interview that the Class 4 license should be viewed as an investment if people wish to make a few bucks as a driver.
Skakun shares the same sentiment but also hinted the additional license could also be used as a future employment tool.
“Once you get your Class 4, I think it is good for five years and when you get older you have to renew it more, why not do that and it might open up employment opportunities down the road not just for driving a taxi or one of these ridesharing services it could be for something else and I don’t think it’s too cumbersome for someone to go through that process.”