Should Yellowknife allow ridesharing services like Uber?

As Yellowknife plans to update a bylaw regulating taxis in the city, some councillors are questioning whether that work should consider ridesharing services such as Lyft or Uber.

At the moment, you can’t use Uber, Lyft or any similar service in Yellowknife. They don’t exist in the NWT capital.

The topic of ridesharing arose at a Monday meeting of councillors during a discussion on how taxis are regulated.

City staff have recommended hiring a consultant to engage taxi companies and drivers, passengers and the general public on proposed changes to the Livery Licence Bylaw – the city’s bylaw that governs taxis.

At the meeting, some councillors asked why the city is not investigating changes to the bylaw, which would allow the likes of Uber and Lyft to operate in Yellowknife.

“I think it’s always better to be proactive than reactive,” councillor Tom McLennan said.

According to the city, the way ridesharing companies ordinarily operate isn’t compliant with Yellowknife’s bylaw, which does not allow surge rates and requires companies to have dispatch facilities. Nor, staff added, has anyone expressed much interest.

“The reason we didn’t propose regulating rideshare in a repeal and replacement of the Livery Licence Bylaw is to date, we haven’t seen any demand for this,” city planning director Charlsey White said.

‘Your input is very important’

Councillor Stacie Arden-Smith questioned how City Hall reached the conclusion that there’s a lack of demand for ridesharing in Yellowknife, given the city has never had such a service.

Arden-Smith posted to Facebook asking residents to share their thoughts on whether ridesharing should be included as a consultation topic as the bylaw is updated.

As of Wednesday evening, more than 70 people had responded with a range of views.

“I know many people who come here know already that Uber doesn’t exist here, that these things don’t exist here and that’s why there’s no ask for them – because we know they already don’t exist,” Arden-Smith said.

“So if this is something that even our next generation is looking for, they want, make sure you come forward. Your input is very important.”

Councillor Steve Payne said he, too, would like ridesharing to be part of the public discussion on changes to the bylaw.

Plans to update the bylaw follow recent taxi regulation issues like a lack of accessible transportation and safety concerns.

In a 2021 survey by the Status of Women Council of the NWT, respondents reported more than 500 instances where they felt unsafe while taking a taxi. Drivers have also reported violent incidents.

City proposes 12 changes

According to a memo to councillors, there are currently 145 licensed taxis and 197 drivers in Yellowknife. The city’s municipal enforcement division conducts approximately 200 taxi inspections annually.

City staff said proposed changes to the bylaw are based on updates to similar legislation in Whitehorse.

The city currently expects consultation to examine 12 proposed amendments:

• changing the name of the bylaw to the Taxi Bylaw;
• increasing taxi meter rates by approximately 25 percent;
• requiring each taxi company to have one wheelchair-accessible vehicle available 24 hours a day;
• requiring the installation of security cameras in all taxis;
• allowing taxi drivers to request a maximum $30 deposit before a trip;
• adding a $50 fee to write the driver’s exam and a period of time before a rewrite is allowed;
• requiring drivers to make reasonable efforts to return items left in vehicles;
• prohibiting taxis from operating after they have travelled more than 450,000 km;
• addressing partitions in taxis; 
• updating sections on taxi condition;
• updating sections on driver conduct; and
• updating the information that must be displayed in taxis.

“I’m excited to see what stakeholder engagement will look like out of this,” deputy mayor Garett Cochrane said. “Because I’m assuming there’s a lot more that could be proposed by people who are actually working in this industry.”

City staff said if council wants to add ridesharing as a topic for discussion, it can be included, but will require more research.