With the regulatory framework now in place, Manitoba will be open to vehicles-for-hire as of this Thursday, but two of the industry's big players are still holding off from entering this market.

The province has approved regulatory changes that will allow for ride-sharing operators, but it's not the way Uber and Lyft want it. Under the approved framework, individual vehicle-for-hire drivers will select plans that add onto their basic coverage; there are four "time-bands" to choose from, and drivers can select any combination of those, depending on when they plan to operate as a vehicle-for-hire. MPI says changing time-bands will be done free-of-charge. Each time-band adds five per cent onto the Basic all-purpose rate, up to 20 per cent for all four.

Uber would prefer a blanket coverage option for the company, rather than requiring drivers to each buy their own. Lyft, similarly, doesn't believe the current Manitoba framework will work for them.

Crown Services Minister Cliff Cullen told reporters today talks with those two companies and MPI continue, but the government is not re-considering the insurance model at this time.

"Their competition is here and they're going to be doing business. It's up to Uber and Lyft to make that decision," said Cullen.

According to Cullen, four companies -- TappCar, U2GO, InstaRyde, and Cowboy Taxi -- are looking at offering vehicle-for-hire services in Winnipeg under the current insurance model. TappCar has said it will be ready to go by Friday.

The province says the legislative and regulatory changes allow individual municipalities to customize their own, separate bylaw requirements when it comes to vehicles-for-hire licencing.