Conservative Party of BC Responds to UTFBC’s Province-Wide Passenger Transportation Petition
Published:
October 20, 2026
Political Party:
Conservative Party of British Columbia
Response Received From:
Jarret Coels, Candidate Communications Lead
The United Taxi Federation of BC (UTFBC) has received a written response from the Conservative Party of BC regarding its Notice of Petition and the recommendations outlined in the Province-Wide Passenger Transportation Petition.
As part of its commitment to transparency and public information, UTFBC is publishing the responses received from provincial political parties to help taxi operators, drivers, other passenger transportation stakeholders, and the public understand each party’s stated positions on matters affecting the industry.
The following executive summary outlines the key points communicated by the Conservative Party of BC. The party’s complete written response is provided below.
Executive Summary
The Conservative Party of BC responded to nine areas identified in UTFBC’s Notice of Petition.
1. Vehicle Oversupply
The party acknowledged concerns about the balance between vehicle supply, passenger demand, and industry sustainability. It expressed willingness to meet with industry representatives to discuss the issue.
2. Fair and Sustainable Pricing
The party recognized the importance of affordable passenger fares and financially sustainable transportation services. It indicated that potential changes to the pricing framework should involve consultation with affected parties.
3. Professional Driver Training and Standards
The party identified professional training and service standards as important to passenger safety and expressed willingness to work with industry representatives and regulators to identify possible improvements.
4. Passenger and Driver Safety
The party identified safety as a priority and indicated that consideration of safety cameras and other protective measures should account for effectiveness, privacy, operational requirements, and the views of affected parties.
5. Hours of Service Rules
The party acknowledged the variable working schedules and waiting periods associated with passenger transportation. It expressed interest in discussing these issues with drivers, operators, and regulators while maintaining safety protections.
6. Accessible and Local Transportation
The party recognized the importance of reliable and affordable transportation for seniors, people with disabilities, and communities throughout British Columbia.
7. Ride-Hailing Platform Accountability
The party acknowledged concerns regarding transparency, working conditions, and driver earnings on ride-hailing platforms. It expressed interest in hearing directly from drivers, platform operators, and other stakeholders.
8. Autonomous Vehicles
The party recognized the potential effects of autonomous vehicles on safety, employment, accessibility, and existing transportation services. It indicated that government should consider these impacts and consult affected parties.
9. Written Action Plan and Timelines
The party acknowledged the need for regulatory clarity and expressed willingness to meet with UTFBC to review the petition’s recommendations and discuss potential regulatory changes before determining next steps.
Full Written Response from the Conservative Party of BC
The following response was provided by Jarret Coels, Candidate Communications Lead, Conservative Party of BC, and is reproduced in full.
1. Vehicle Oversupply
We’ve heard the industry’s concerns about the balance between vehicle supply, passenger demand and the sustainability of the sector. It’s a complex issue, and any fix has to account for drivers, operators and passengers alike. We want to sit down with industry representatives and work through it.
2. Fair and Sustainable Pricing
Passengers need fares they can afford, and providers need pricing that keeps their businesses viable. We’ve heard the concerns about the current pricing framework. Any change should come out of real consultation and a clear view of how it would affect everyone involved.
3. Professional Driver Training and Standards
Passengers should be able to count on safe, professional service across the sector, and training and standards are part of that. We’ll work with industry and regulators to find where improvements are needed.
4. Passenger and Driver Safety
Passenger and driver safety is a priority. We’ve heard the concerns about safety cameras and other protective measures. Any change should weigh how well it works, privacy, operational needs and the views of the people directly affected.
5. Hours of Service Rules
Passenger transportation doesn’t run on a standard shift. Waiting time and variable schedules are part of the job. We understand those realities and the need to keep safety protections in place, and we want to work through this with drivers, operators and regulators.
6. Accessible and Local Transportation
Seniors, people with disabilities and communities across BC depend on accessible, local transportation. Keeping those options reliable and affordable matters, and we’ll keep working with providers and the people who rely on them.
7. Ride-Hailing Platform Accountability
Transparency and fairness matter in how ride-hailing platforms deal with their drivers. We’ve heard the concerns about working conditions and earnings, and we want to hear directly from drivers, platform operators and others about their experience.
8. Autonomous Vehicles
Autonomous vehicles bring both opportunity and disruption. Their effect on safety, jobs, accessibility and existing transportation services needs careful thought. Government should understand those impacts and hear from the people affected as the technology develops.
9. Written Action Plan and Timelines
This petition covers a lot of ground, and the sector needs regulatory clarity. We’ll take you up on the offer to meet, go through these priorities together and look at what the proposed changes would mean before setting next steps. Getting the details right is part of strong leadership for serious times.
Jarret Coels
Candidate Communications Lead
Conservative Party of BC
Additional Clarifications Requested by UTFBC
Following receipt of the written response, UTFBC requested clarification from the Conservative Party of BC on two additional matters:
Class 4 Commercial Driver’s Licence
Whether the party supports maintaining the existing Class 4 commercial driver’s licence requirement for both taxi and ride-hailing drivers.
ICBC Paid-Mileage Insurance Model
Whether the party supports preserving the current ICBC paid-mileage insurance model without returning to the previous system of substantially higher annual commercial insurance premiums for taxi operators.
These questions were submitted separately and were not addressed in the original nine responses reproduced above. Any subsequent responses may be published as additional information becomes available.
About This Publication
UTFBC has invited provincial political parties to respond to its Notice of Petition concerning passenger transportation regulation in British Columbia.
The purpose of publishing these responses is to provide members of the taxi industry, passenger transportation stakeholders, and the general public with direct access to the positions communicated by each political party.
UTFBC is a nonpartisan organization and does not endorse any political party or candidate.
The executive summary is provided for readers’ convenience. The complete written response is reproduced above to allow readers to review the party’s statements directly.
United Taxi Federation of BC (UTFBC)
Advocating for fair regulation, public safety, accessibility, and a sustainable passenger transportation industry.