Sask. ride-sharing rules expected soon: SGI minister

The provincial government says it will be releasing detailed regulations for ride-sharing services in the next few weeks, with hopes companies will be able to start operating in Saskatchewan by New Year’s Eve.

Minister Responsible for SGI Joe Hargrave told 650 CKOM in an interview Friday morning that the rules were about 95 per cent complete, and should be done by the end of November barring any “snags.”

“We very close to having it all finalized, we’re optimistic,” he said. “It would be nice if they could be operating to some degree and be able to provide a service for New Year’s.”

He said the ministry has been working to develop rules that are fair to both ride-sharing companies, such as Uber and Lyft, and taxi service providers.

However, he noted it was difficult to find a balance of regulations that could please everyone.

“We want to do the best we can do to make it a level playing field for everybody, so it’s not tipped or slanted in one direction or the other,” he said.

If the regulations are released by the end of November, city councils could develop their own bylaws to cover municipal law responsibilities and have them passed in their December council meetings.

Both Saskatoon and Regina’s city council meetings are scheduled for Dec. 17.

Saskatoon city councillors have already asked city staff to draft a temporary bylaw governing ride-sharing companies, which would come up for approval once provincial regulations come down.

In Regina, Mayor Michael Fougere told 980 CJME in May that administration was working on a bylaw, but they’ve been waiting for the provincial rules to come forward.