The Sask Party government has passed legislation allowing ride-sharing companies to operate in the province.

Humboldt has few restrictions on taxi operation, so there would be few barriers to starting a ride-sharing business, city manager Joe Day said.

However the city hasn't determined if any ride-sharing companies operate in markets as small as Humboldt, he said.

"I know that some of them don’t. So as far as whether there's an opportunity for any of those ride-sharing companies to start operating in Humboldt, I’d have to say we haven't been made aware of the impacts of those yet.”

The legislation won't come into effect until it is proclaimed in the fall, said Karol Noe, SGI vice president of licencing, customer and vehicle services.

"We have a framework now to work towards, but we still need regulations and cities may need bylaws, so they're still not able to operate as ridesharing right now."

The government bills the legislation as a way to fight impaired driving.

Some elements of the legislation include:

  • The ridesharing company must file written evidence of a motor vehicle liability insurance policy with a minimum limit of $1 million.
  • The company must insure every vehicle used to provide service under The Automobile Accident Insurance Act.
  • Municipalities continue to be able to make bylaws that also govern ridesharing companies in their town or city.
  • Mandatory criminal record checks for all drivers (rideshare, limousines and taxis).
  • A prescribed driver’s licence class which will apply to ridesharing company drivers, taxis and limousines.