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 The city council rescinded its attempt and has not touched the file again ever since.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.
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.