There are new calls for ride-hailing companies like Uber to come to B.C. as the provincial government took eight months to consult with the public – only to come up with a report calling for more consultation.

B.C.’s Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development says it will be at least 2017 before any new rules are adopted – and is denying those delays are because of pressure from taxi companies, which would have a lot to lose if Uber came to Vancouver.

“We want to make sure it’s a level playing field, that consumers are protected. And at the end of the day we want to provide the best for all the stakeholders,” Peter Fassbender told CTV News.

The San Francisco-based ride-hailing behemoth operates in more than 400 cities worldwide, and has courted controversy wherever it goes as it tends to operate no matter what local laws say.

However it’s had some breakthroughs recently in Canada, including a decision by the city of Ottawa to license the service. The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade said 80 per cent of its members want the service here as well to help tackle issues like congestion.

“If we’re going to tackle those we need to do so with every tool we’ve got and ridesharing is one of those tools,” said Iain Black.

In 2012, Uber operated briefly in Vancouver before beating a hasty retreat when confronted with among the toughest taxi laws in North America: two levels of government licensing, which in part is contingent on whether its competition with taxi companies will improve, not hurt, their economic conditions.

A consultation process begun in January produced a report that identified several principles, but no conclusions, simply recommending: “Government is committed to a transparent and open consultation with British Columbians on issues that affect them.”

Shortly after that consultation began, in February, Fassbender was recorded addressing the B.C. Taxi Association, saying, “I need to tell you we, as a government, are concerned about the future of the taxi industry, first and foremost.”

The recording was made public via a Freedom of Information request by reporter Bob Mackin. Public records show the B.C. Liberals received about $35,000 in donations from the taxi industry last year.

But in an interview Fassbender said the opposition NDP also gets money from the taxi industry – and he cares about consumers as well.

“We want to make sure consumers are protected,” he said. “We’ve watched what’s going on in the world. Jurisdictions where there are no controls, no regulations.”

The Vancouver Taxi Association’s Carolyn Bauer said her industry is watching what’s happening with Uber’s experimentations with driverless vehicles that could be a threat to local jobs.

“Uber’s not looking to put people on the road to work,” she said. “If they were they wouldn’t be testing so many autonomous cars.”