Government introduces a ride sharing approach, legislative changes are needed

The approach has been developed after many discussions with multiple community partners, municipalities and ride sharing companies. 

Government has introduced a provincial approach to ride sharing. The approach has been developed after many discussions with multiple community partners, municipalities and ride sharing companies.  It will provide a clear set of rules to enable ride sharing services to operate safely in this province. It will also help to ensure consistency in regulation and enforcement. Legislative and policy changes will be introduced in the House of Assembly. These include eliminating the requirement of a Class 4 driver’s licence to drive either a taxi or ride sharing vehicle, waiving the requirement for a taxi licence plate to be on any ride sharing vehicle, providing definitions for a transportation network, a transportation network company and a ride sharing service, clarifying the definition of taxi to not include ride sharing services, introducing a system of licensing transportation network companies; and amending municipal legislation to limit their jurisdiction to taxi services only and not ride sharing. If passed in the House of Assembly, these changes will require the same safety standards for both taxis and ride sharing providers in Newfoundland and Labrador.