Uber 'reviewing' new Alberta rules before deciding to resume service

Uber willreviewwhether toresume operations in Alberta in light of new provincial rules and a new insurance policy for ride-service drivers that take effect this week.

"We recognize the steps taken by the Alberta government and we will be reviewing the newly approved ride-sharing insurance policy and other announced rules," Uber spokesman Jean-Christophe de Le Rue said in an email. "We'll have more to share soon."

• Another major debate on Uber, TappCar and taxis headed for Edmonton city hall this fall
• Uber suspends operations in Edmonton over insurance delay

On Tuesday, Transportation Minister Brian Mason confirmed that an insurance policy created especially for ride services such asUber will be available in Alberta starting July 1.

However, the minister is not backing down on the requirement for ride-service drivers to upgrade to a class 1, 2 or 4 licence, which requires a more comprehensive test than a class 5.

The cost of the test runs from $150 to $200. Drivers must pass a police records check, which is more thorough than a criminal records checkbecause it flags charges and outstanding warrants.

Uberopposes rules that force its drivers to upgrade their licences.

Mason said the government turned down one Uberproposal: The companyhad asked that drivers be allowed toretain their class-5 licences, as long aslimits wereplaced on the hours they can workover a three-month period.

"We want to make sure whenever a driver takes a passenger for hire that they have met the requirements for doing so," Mason said. "We didn't accept their suggestion."

The province will audit the ride-service companies to ensure their drivers have complied with the rules.

If not, companies, not the drivers, will face fines of $50,000 per offence per day.

TappCaralready compliant

The insurance policies will have to be purchased by the ride service for use by their drivers.

The policy, developed by the province's superintendent of insurance with help of Intact Insurance, offers $1 million in statutory accident coverage for drivers when they log into their company's app.

The coverage increases to $2 million in third-party liability coverageand optional collision or comprehensive coverage when the fare is accepted and when the passenger is in the vehicle.

Uberceased operating in Edmonton at the end of February after the city passed a bylaw that compelled drivers to have proper insurance. The company contends commercial insurance policies are too expensive for their drivers,so ithad to wait until the province approved a policy specifically forride-hailing companies.

TappCarlaunched in Edmonton the meantime. TappCar drivershave at least a class 4 licenceand have the samecommercialinsurance policyused by taxi drivers.

A TappCar representative said afterMason's news conference that the new rules won't change their operations, since they are already in compliance.