Cannabis delivery and insurance policies are major lobbying issues for ride-for-hire industry

ALBERTA — Uber engaged with officials on cannabis delivery. Lyft says drivers shouldn’t need commercial licenses. Taxi operators are asking regulators to give them the same breaks afforded to rideshare companies.

Here’s a breakdown of changes the ride-for-hire industry wants in Alberta.

The province’s lobbyist registry shows that over the last six months, Uber has been engaging with Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis and several government ministries about regulations for delivering controlled substances.

Alberta’s laws currently allow cannabis to be delivered, but only by certified staff from licensed retailers. A partnership between online cannabis storefront Leafly and Uber was introduced in Alberta in 2024, making it possible for Albertans to purchase cannabis from select stores through the Uber Eats app, but the delivery is done by the retailer’s staff.

In a lobbying notice filed on Oct. 24, Uber said it had communicated with government officials on “issues relating to the provision of smartphone applications with respect to regulated items such as alcohol and cannabis.”

A spokesperson for Uber said it wants to be ready if there are future regulatory changes initiated by the government, “but we are not actively pursuing any at this time.”

Lyft’s most recent lobbying records show the company is continuing to push the Alberta government to ease licensing standards for its drivers. All ride-for-hire drivers need to have a commercial vehicle license to operate in Alberta, whether they’re driving a limousine, a taxi or their own vehicle as a contractor for rideshare apps. Since 2022, Lyft has been communicating with various ministries to waive this requirement for rideshare drivers and make the regular Class 5 license the industry standard.

Though requirements for driver’s licenses are the same, the province has previously made regulatory and insurance carveouts for rideshare apps that taxi companies say put them at a disadvantage. TappConnect, a coalition of Alberta taxi, limo and towing companies, has registered to lobby the government to hold its members to the same standards.

“The goal is to create a fairer operating environment and improve financial sustainability for traditional taxi fleets in Calgary and Edmonton,” the lobbying notice states.

A major focus of the TappConnect’s lobbying is to allow cabs to operate with the same insurance model used by rideshare companies, which blends personal and commercial coverage. The group says this change would reduce insurance costs and the financial burden on operators.