Regina executive committee considers ride-share rules

The Regina city council executive committee will look at proposed regulations for ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft on Wednesday.

A report from administration recommends criminal record checks for drivers and annual vehicle inspections by an SGI-appointed mechanic.

As well, ride-share drivers would be prohibited from accepting street hails or picking up passengers from taxi stands.

Ride-share companies, which the city would classify as “Transportation Network Companies” (TNC), would be licensed by the city. They would be responsible for compliance with bylaws and all fees, both its own and those for drivers.

The fees the companies will pay would depend on the number of drivers and vehicles operating and the number trips taken.

Two companies are expected to operate between 11 to 50 vehicles, which would work out to an annual licence fee of $12,000.

A third could be licensed for one to 10 vehicles for a fee of $2,500, according to the report.

There would also be a per trip fee of 20 cents and a per trip surcharge of seven cents that would go toward accessible transit.

The report does not recommend minimum fares, mandatory cameras in vehicles or a cap on the number of licences.

City council could be presented with a bylaw to implement the regulations on Feb. 28.

Funding requested for outdoor NHL game

The Regina Exhibition Association Limited, the non-profit that operates Evraz Place, is asking the city for a cash contribution of $100,000 plus $50,000 in services to host the outdoor NHL game at Mosaic Stadium.

The contribution would be subject to a few conditions, including Evraz Place securing $500,000 from the province and another $200,000 in financial support from the community.

Also, the city would not be on the hook for deficits or loans incurred by Evraz Place in holding the game.

Funds would come one-time from the city’s general operating budget.