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Tag: new driver

  • What new rules in B.C. mean for gig worker rights in Canada – MoneySense

    What new rules in B.C. mean for gig worker rights in Canada – MoneySense

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    Regulations that came into effect on Sept. 3 introduced protections for gig workers in the province, including: a minimum wage, mileage compensation, upfront fare transparency, and rules for account deactivation and dispute resolution. The regulations also give workers access to workers’ compensation through WorkSafeBC, a provincial agency that supports injured workers. 

    If you’re a gig worker or considering working through an app, here’s what you need to know about the rights you have across the country. 

    What led to new gig worker protections in B.C.? 

    The regulations come after years of efforts by unions and gig workers themselves to have gig work covered by provincial employment standards. In provincial labour law, app-based workers are considered independent contractors rather than employees, which means they haven’t been eligible for traditional employment protections, such as a minimum wage and rules around termination and severance pay. Gig work platforms also don’t have to make employment insurance (EI) or Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions on behalf of gig workers.

    The workforce for ride-hailing and delivery platforms, including Uber, DoorDash, SkipTheDishes and Lyft, grew 46% in 2023, according to Statistics Canada’s December 2023 labour force survey. That brought the total number of workers aged 16 to 69 to 365,000, up from 250,000 in 2022. Landed immigrants accounted for almost six in 10 of those workers.

    B.C.’s rules are a “step in the right direction,” says Jim Stanford, an economist and the director of the Centre for Future Work, a progressive research institute. But gig work is still largely the “wild west of employment,” he says, and there are few avenues for workers to assert their rights.

    Wages for gig workers

    B.C. is the first province or territory to implement a minimum wage for gig workers. At $20.88 per hour, the rate is 120% of the regular provincial minimum wage of $17.40 per hour. It only applies to “engaged time,” meaning the time drivers and couriers actually spend on assignments—hence the wage premium. Workers whose engaged time over a select pay period falls below the gig worker minimum wage are topped up by the platform at the time they’re paid. (Tips are not included in the minimum wage calculation.) 

    “The equation is difficult and it’s not perfect, but it aims to start to address idle time, when someone is waiting to pick up a person or package,” says Pablo Godoy, director of emerging sectors for the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW), a private sector union. The UFCW Canada signed an agreement with Uber Canada in 2022 that made the union the official representative for Uber drivers and delivery workers across the country.

    Tips and vehicle allowances

    As part of the new legislation, B.C. has mandated that platforms pay workers 100% of their tips. It has also introduced a vehicle allowance to compensate workers for the cost of maintaining their vehicles. Drivers receive 45 cents per kilometre for personal vehicles and 35 cents per kilometre for other forms of transportation, including motorized e-bikes and bicycles. (Those who travel by foot aren’t eligible for the allowance.) 

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    Kelsey Rolfe

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  • The cost of getting your B.C. driver’s licence: driving school, road tests and more – MoneySense

    The cost of getting your B.C. driver’s licence: driving school, road tests and more – MoneySense

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    Auto insurance for new drivers in B.C. with an L or N licence

    In B.C., auto insurance is purchased through the ICBC’s broker network. When you have your L, you can’t take out your own auto insurance policy yet, since you can’t drive independently. Instead, you’ll need to be listed as a secondary driver on another policy (say, one of your parents), which typically costs $130 to $230 per year. 

    Once you get your N, however, and you decide to take out your own auto insurance policy, the costs will increase considerably. New drivers in B.C. who have just earned their N can pay as much as $3,000 per year for their own auto insurance policy—a 10-fold increase of what they paid when they had the L.

    Getting your full licence in B.C.

    The final step in the graduated licencing system is to get your full, unrestricted licence. Once you’ve had your N licence for 24 months with a clean driving record, you can go for your Class 5 road test, which costs $50, at any ICBC licensing office. If you’ve completed a Graduated Licencing Program course from an ICBC-accredited driving school, the wait time decreases from 24 to 18 months. 

    The Class 5 road test is a slightly more challenging version of the Class 7 road test. At this stage, you’ll be tested on things like turning, changing lanes and parking, in a variety of driving environments. For your Class 5 test, your examiner can take you on the highway, into busy commercial areas and through large intersections. 

    If you don’t pass the Class 5 test, you’ll need to wait 14 days before you can take the test again.

    Going to driving school in B.C.

    Throughout the graduated licencing process, driving school can help you learn the skills you need. The costs and types of driving lessons you’ll need will vary depending on which step of the graduated licencing process you’re at. 

    • L stage: To prepare for the L knowledge test, you can use the ICBC’s free Learn to Drive Smart app (available for iOS and Android). You can also buy a practice workbook or an online L test prep tool. These are relatively inexpensive, typically costing $20 to $50. It is a worthwhile investment, though, because each additional L test attempt costs $15, as well as a few hours of your time. 
    • N stage: You’ll want to explore taking a course that’s tailored to help you pass your Class 7 road test. There are two types of courses. The first (and more expensive) option is enrolling in a Graduated Licencing Program (GLP) course. GLP courses typically cost $1,400 to $1,600. Unfortunately, unlike in other Canadian provinces such as Ontario, going through a GLP in British Columbia doesn’t lower your auto insurance, but it has other perks. If you complete a GLP with an ICBC-approved driving school, you can qualify for a six-month wait time reduction between the time you get your N and the time you get your full licence (18 months instead of 24 months). Additionally, if you’re a high school student, you can get two high school credits. Instead of taking a GLP course, the other option at the N stage is to take any other preparation course for the Class 7 road test. Prep courses outside of the GLP are usually significantly cheaper, ranging from $900 to $1,200. Given the limited financial benefits of the GLP, most driving students in B.C. opt for the non-GLP option.
    • Class 5 road test stage: Finally, when you’re preparing for your Class 5 test, it’s a good idea to take a few practice lessons with a driving school. These lessons typically cost between $75 to $150 per hour. They will cover what you need to know for the Class 5 test.

    Overall, taking lessons with an ICBC-certified driving school can make you a safer driver and increase your chances of passing your road tests on the first try. Safe driving habits are something that you build for life, and investing in driver’s ed early in your licencing journey can pay dividends. 

    What is a B.C. driver’s abstract?

    You may hear the term “B.C. driver’s abstract.” Also known as the driving record, this is an official document that covers your driving history. It highlights any infractions, accidents or demerit points accumulated over the past five years. 

    You can obtain your driver’s abstract online, in person at an ICBC office, or by phone. Typically, driving abstracts are required when applying for a job that involves driving, moving to a new province or country, or seeking an insurance quote. There is no cost to get your driver’s abstract.

    How much does it cost for a new driver to be insured in B.C.?

    Once you have your full licence, you’ll need to get insured. In B.C., car insurance is provided through the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). For new drivers, insurance can cost as much as $3,000 per year.

    Your insurance rates will depend on several factors, including the type of licence you hold, your driving experience and your vehicle. As a new driver, your rates may be higher, but they can decrease over time if you maintain a safe driving record. As mentioned earlier, attending driving school unfortunately doesn’t lower insurance rates in B.C., but maintaining a safe driving record, combined with exploring low-kilometre and distance-based discounts, can add up. 

    Auto insurance in British Columbia can be purchased through any of the ICBC’s 900-plus licenced Autoplan brokers. Once you have insurance and your full, unrestricted licence, you’ll be ready to drive.

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    Mikael Castaldo

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  • Why is auto insurance so expensive in Alberta? – MoneySense

    Why is auto insurance so expensive in Alberta? – MoneySense

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    Alberta premiums have gone up specifically due to soaring legal fees and other costs associated with lawsuits following accidents, which is not the case in other provinces. That’s thanks to a culture of litigation in the province, which isn’t as present in the rest of Canada.

    Over the last 10 years, the average size of accident benefit claims increased by 147% in Alberta, compared with 53% or less in other provinces. Put plainly, claims are higher in Alberta than elsewhere in Canada, due to bodily injury claims and escalating legal costs in Alberta. 

    The province of Alberta has consistently had the highest claims frequency for third-party liability, accident benefits, comprehensive and collision coverages, says a report from consulting firm MNP commissioned by the IBC.

    Huge auto-insurance legal costs are to blame as well. These costs have gone up in the province by 38% since 2018 and account for about 20% of the premiums drivers pay for mandatory auto insurance coverage in Alberta. 

    “This is equivalent to nearly $200 for each policy annually,” the IBC has stated in a recent report.

    Another contributing factor, according to MNP, is the increasing cost and length of car repairs. A Toyota RAV4 bumper costs $4,144 to replace today, up 50% from $2,769 in 2017. Also, 24% of auto sales in Alberta are of trucks, which is higher than the national average of 18.1%.

    Supply chain issues have slowed down auto parts replacement, as any car owner who’s had to cool their heels for a part to arrive at their mechanic can attest to. This waiting has had a knock-on effect of making car rental lengths longer in Alberta as well. 

    TOYOTA RAV4 model year Cost of repair Total increase of repairs
    2017 17 parts total cost of repair: $2,769 n/a
    2022 39 parts total cost to repair: $4,144 50% increase from 2017 (newer vehicles have complex technology and more parts to repair)

    Source: IBC

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    Helen Racanelli

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