It’s small business week and ride sharing is one of those businesses that’s been on the mind of many British Columbians.

With companies like Uber getting ready to roll by the end of the year, NDP Minister of Jobs, Bruce Ralston, was on the NL Morning News and recognized there is a need and not just in the Lower Mainland but in communities like Kamloops. “Seven companies applying shows that there’s interest and people with business skill feel that there’s a market demand for that and they think they can make money out of it and provide a public service, so I think that’s a good thing, that’s what we want to see and competition in that sector will be healthy.”

Ralston insisted competition has to be the same for everyone. “We want to make sure there’s a level playing field with existing other commercial transportation such as the taxi industry but we’re working on that and that is something that’s in the hands of Passenger-Transportation board right now.”

The Minister went on to say he knows what it’s like to have to get a special licence. “I used to drive taxi twenty five years ago. I got a class four licence, it wasn’t too onerous and I don’t think it’s all that onerous now. There’s an extra medical check and an extra road test so we think that’s important for public safety.”