Metro Vancouver taxi companies seek ride-hailing injunction

Photo: The Canadian Press

Richmond Cabs, operating as Richmond Taxi, is one of nine Metro Vancouver companies trying to quash Uber and Lyft’s licence to operate in B.C.

Two legal challenges, filed Monday at BC Supreme Court, state the taxi companies are seeking an injunction to stop Uber and Lyft from operating, while a petition asking the court to rescind the companies’ licences is reviewed.  

Other Metro Vancouver companies behind the suit are Yellow Cab, Black Top Cabs, Maclure’s Cabs, Vancouver Taxi, North Shore Taxi, Bonny’s Taxi, Burnaby Select Metrotown Taxi and Queen City Taxi.

Richmond’s Garden City Cabs and Kimber Cabs Ltd. are listed as “additional petitioners,” along with several other Metro Vancouver companies.

The Passenger Transportation Board, according to the petitioners, is allowing Uber and Lyft to operate on more favourable terms than the taxi companies, and didn’t consider the “extremely harmful financial impact” to taxis.    

“The cornerstone of the regulation of the taxi industry has always been the limit on the number of taxi licences that are granted for a particular geographic area,” reads the petition, adding that the limits have been set to prevent the “destructive competition” that would result from unlimited entry into the market.

This, according to the petition, would result in none of the taxi companies being able to make a living.

“The business model of the international (ride-hailing companies), specifically Uber and Lyft, is to dominate the passenger transportation market by not having to comply with the rules and regulations that apply to taxis,” reads the petition.

Uber and Lyft aren’t currently subject to fleet size restrictions.

“It takes years for (ride-hailing services) to ramp up. This will especially be the case with Class 4 drivers licence requirement,” said Catherine Reid, PTB chair, when the board set out conditions for ride-hailing operations.

“The Passenger Transportation Board will be monitoring (ride-hailing service) performance data, and as data becomes available fleet size may be reassessed.”

The petition claims the taxi companies’ economic situation is “immediately and significantly” impacted by Uber and Lyft.

“There have already been several reports of reduced taxi business, especially at YVR airport and at hotel taxi stands, with taxis waiting longer than usual for customers, while customers wait longer to pay lower prices for Uber and Lyft,” it states.

The injunction application will be heard Feb. 4.