2 cab companies, 3 ride-hailing firms licensed to operate under new Winnipeg vehicle-for-hire rules

Two cab companiesand threeride-hailing services have been licensed to operate under Winnipeg's new vehicle-for-hire framework.

On Thursday, the Winnipeg Parking Authority takes over the responsibility of regulating taxis and other vehicles for hire from the provincial taxicab board, which effectively dissolves at the end of the day.

On Wednesday, the city said Unicity and Duffy's Taxi have been licensed as taxi dispatchers, while vehicle-for-hire firms TappCar, Cowboy Taxi and InstaRyde have also been licensed.

• 'Competition is here' for Uber and Lyft, Pallister government says as 4 other firms play ball with MPI

TappCar, based in Edmonton, plans to be on the road in Winnipeg on Friday. Cowboy Taxi is based out of Calgary and InstaRydeis a Toronto company.

U.S.-based Uber and Lyfthave expressed interest in the Winnipeg market, but have balked at Manitoba Public Insurance's regulatory framework, which requires drivers to top up their personal motor-vehicle insurance.