The inclusion of the Northern Rideshare Pilot in the Fall Economic Statement, its fast-paced consultation and implementation, and the fact that this project is led by Cabinet Office staff suggest it is a priority for the minister (and/or the premier). Uber, it is worth mentioning, also hired Rubicon, the government relations firm led by Premier Ford’s three-time campaign manager, just months before the announcement.
The province is using Toronto as its model because Uber has shaped Toronto’s regulatory system in a way that benefits the company at the expense of the competition, the incumbent taxi industry and public transit. Heavy lobbying between 2015 and 2016, and a receptive local government under then-mayor John Tory, led to the deregulation of the vehicle-for-hire sector, including the removal of emission controls, driver training, and fare caps, creating an Uber-friendly environment. And despite current mayor Olivia Chow’s attempts to fix the sector, Uber has gone on the offensive. In October 2023 after reports of Uber’s ultra precarious pay became public, Uber threatened to sue the City of Toronto and waged a misleading public relations campaign against the City. The city council rescinded its attempt and has not touched the file again ever since.
Given the Ford government’s track record on gig work and digital platforms, we can say it is either clueless, acts against the interests of Ontario’s workers and Canadian businesses, or both.
Somebody needs to set up a company that charges double the price of Uber but exists only to give all of the money directly to the drivers. Pretty soon Uber would not have any drivers.
200% of 0 isn’t going to entice many drivers.
Why would the average rider choose to spend 2x the fare when other options exist? It would take the coordination of every driver to only drive for your hypothetical service and refuse all other fares. A la, an industry wide strike of sorts. And those that break from the group will rake it in from the pent up rider demand.
HOVR already exists to try something different, where the driver’s pay a flat rate subscription to the company and all of the rider’s fare goes to the driver. Driver availability is… Sparse at best.
I may have exaggerated a little with “double” the price. But there are plenty of rich people willing to pay a little more to avoid the company that’s primarily known for being unethical and abusing its employees.
People would still use Uber if it cost less. We’ve proven over and over that we will sellout pretty much anyone for a little convenience. I hope that changes, and I vote and act with that goal in mind, not the cynicism which seeks to wear me down, but man if I’m not regularly disappointed in everyone.
It would be difficult to give 100% of the money to drivers. You need to pay to code the app people use to call the car, you need to pay the IT guy that programmed and maintains it, you need to pay for the datacenter, you need some company funds to handle expansion, lawsuits, and other expenses.
You could defintely still develop the system and pay the drivers more fairly and competivly but to be sustainable some amount of the revenue has to support the company.