The Province of BC is seeking feedback from the public on ride-hailing services (Uber, Lyft etc.) within BC.

Background

• In 2019, BC put a framework in place to enable ride-hailing.
• In 2023/24, a Special Committee to Review Passenger Directed Vehicles made recommendations related to items such as vehicle supply, safety, employment, environmental impacts, and service to rural and remote communities. On November 16th, 2023, DABC made a presentation to the Special Committee. DABC’s Cynthia Minh identified numerous issues that people with disabilities often face when accessing passenger directed vehicles, and made seven recommendations that could help address the issues identified. You can find full information here.
• Additionally, Lower Mainland resident Martin Bauer complained to the BC Human Rights Tribunal that Uber’s lack of wheelchair accessibility was discriminatory under BC’s Human Rights Code. On March 1^st, 2024, the Tribunal ordered Uber to pay Mr. Bauer $35,000 and offer accessible rides in the Lower Mainland within the next 12 months.

Consultation Process

The Province’s current consultation process on ride-hailing focuses on understanding policy issues related specifically to legislation and regulation. The Ministry is also working to respond to program-related recommendations of the Special Committee.

The Province is committed to adjusting the current ride-hailing framework and making targeted improvements to optimize the way it functions.

As part of this consultation process, the Province would like your answer to the following questions. If you’d like to help shape the way the ride-hailing framework will look in future, please submit your answers to the questions below to PDVEngagement@gov.bc.ca.

If you would like to submit your answers anonymously, you are welcome to share them to DABC at feedback@dabc.ca, and we will ensure that your answers are shared with the Province without your personal information. If so, please include “ride-hailing services” in the subject line of your email.

Questions

1. Provision of taxi number
   • Can you help us understand if/how receiving a taxi identification number at time of booking would improve user experience?
2. Taxi Bill of Rights
   
   • Are you aware of the Taxi Bill of Rights program and associated complaint mechanisms, and do you have any experience with them?
3. Funding programs
   
   • What opportunities do you see where financial support would improve accessibility in the taxi and ride hail sector?
   • Are there other transportation services beyond the taxi and ride hail sector where the province should consider directing accessibility funding?

People with disabilities should not have to pay money to access social and financial supports.  

DABC is excited to announce the opening of applications for the DTC Medical Fees Fund to residents of BC from April 17 to May 17! We announced the launch of this Fund last October during RDSP Awareness Month and are sincerely grateful to those who have contributed to the fund thus far. This fund is to help cover charges by medical practitioners for assistance with the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) application for individuals who face financial barriers to applying. The DTC is a crucial financial benefit meant to reduce the taxes someone with a disability or their supporting family members owe, as well as provide access to numerous financial programs such as the Canada Workers Benefit Disability Supplement, Child Disability Benefit, Canada Dental Care Plan, and Registered Disability Savings Plan. There is also the new Canada Disability Benefit that is coming this July, which will be available to low-income individuals with the DTC.  

The paperwork required by medical practitioners can be lengthy and there is no current regulation on the cost that they can charge for this paperwork. For those living in poverty, this added financial burden can prevent them from accessing the benefit. 

Who is Eligible 

This fund is eligible to residents of BC only. You can apply to this fund if you have been charged or expect to be charged a medical fee to apply for the DTC on or after October 1, 2024.  

As the purpose of this fund is to provide those who are low-income with the financial support they need to apply for the DTC, eligibility will be determined by two factors:  

1.  Current income level
2.  Why you need help from this fund  

We encourage all to apply, but preference will be given to those who face financial barriers applying for the DTC. 

Proof of income is accepted in a variety of ways including but not limited to: previous tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, proof of PWD Designation, proof of social assistance. 

Once qualified applicants are selected, we will also request proof that you have paid or will be charged a medical practitioner fee.  As funding is limited, we anticipate we will not be able to fund all those eligible. We will assess and approve applications in the order that they come in.  

How to Apply 

• Applications will be accepted through an online application form.
• Applications will be accepted from April 15, 2025 until May 15, 2025.
• Applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.

If it is not possible for you to apply online, or if you need any assistance with the application, you can call (604) 923-8136 or email dtc@dabc.ca for assistance. 

Please note, this fund is rolling, and we are looking to continue to raise more money to support applications. We will accept applications again once there is more funding available. Follow us on social media to keep updated when applications are open again.