It looks like Uber won鈥檛 be coming to 琉璃神社 anytime soon.

After submitting its application to the Passenger Transportation Board in August 2020 to allow it to operate provincewide, Uber expected to be operational in the Central Okanagan by Christmas 2020.

However, complications due to the COVID-19 pandemic pushed that decision down the line. In April, the board put Uber鈥檚 application on hold pending an investigation of the 鈥渟ignificant impact鈥� of the COVID-19 pandemic on the passenger transportation industry, which could take up to six months.

鈥淭he investigator will provide a report to the board regarding whether there is a public need for the service proposed鈥� and whether the [application] may have any potential impacts on sound economic conditions in the passenger transportation industry given the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on the B.C. economy more broadly,鈥� reads the board鈥檚 April 20 preliminary decision.

Uber argued the investigation is not necessary because it would be 鈥渕oot鈥� by the time it was released.

Submissions to the board from B.C. taxi companies, including several with operations in the Okanagan, stated allowing Uber to begin its operations 鈥渄uring this health crisis is not in the public interest.鈥�

Uber, after a lengthy fight with the province, has been operating in the Vancouver area since early 2020.

READ MORE: Uber looking to come to 琉璃神社

READ MORE: Taxi companies lose court bid to quash Uber, Lyft approvals in British Columbia

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