In 2012, digital ride-hailing -- most notably facilitated through the Uber app on smart phones -- entered Canadian cities and dramatically disrupted the taxi industry. Over the past six years, city after city has witnessed protests by the taxi industry and its allies. Municipal governments have responded with regulatory changes to their private ride-hailing transportation regulations. Most large municipalities and provinces have embraced the new disruptive technology, although others hold back. For example, digital ride-hailing remains illegal in British Columbia. In contrast, Ontario and Quebec have embraced
regulation.


The impact of the introduction of digital ride-hailing may have profound consequences for Canada. First, concern exists over money leaving the Canadian economy. When people use the Uber app, a 25% commission fee plus a booking fee (estimated to be as high as an additional 25%) is paid to Uber and instantly leaves the country after each digital ride app transaction. Second, economic policymakers question whether Canadian cities and Canadian firms could do more to encourage home-grown innovative solutions to mobility challenges facing our cities. Third, Uberization may be exacerbating an already unequal and precarious labour market in many Canadian cities. Finally, transportation planners wonder whether a proliferation of ride-hailing is increasing congestion and undermining people's desire to use public transit, thereby impacting a publicly funded system.

Chercheur principal

Betsy Donald (Queen's University) et Shauna Brail (University of Toronto)

Co-chercheurs

Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay;Tom Burton (UBC); Eric Miller (University of Toronto); Hamed Motaghi (UQO); Tara Vinodrai (Waterloo University et David Wolfe (University of Toronto)

Organisme subventionnaire

CRSH (Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada)

Programme

Subvention Savoir

Secteur de recherche

Transformations sociales, organisationnelles et professionnelles en contexte d'internationalisation, d'informatisation et de multiculturalisme

Années

2019 - 2024

Montant accordé

358 501,00 $