A judge has denied the taxi industry’s latest legal request to stop Uber from operating in Quebec.
The common front of taxi drivers asked the court to implement a safeguard order, and said their jobs are at risk.
Judge Michel Yergeau heard arguments on Monday and said issued a ruling against the motion on Tuesday morning.
Taxi drivers were outraged by the ruling, and promised to make their voices heard.
Guy Chevrette was furious.
"These are judges who are afraid to take the bull by the horns," said the former PQ minister turned lobbyist.
On Wednesday morning taxi drivers will gather at the Galeries D'Anjou in Montreal and begin a drive to Quebec City before protesting in front of the National Assembly.
"We will be in the government's face until they see reason," said Benoit Jugand, who represents 4,000 taxi drivers in Montreal.
Jugand promised taxi drivers will protest again on Oct. 5.
Uber lawyer Francois Giroux said there was no urgent requirement for this court order, and that an immediate cease and desist order was not necessary. The judge agreed with that argument, decided there was no urgency behind granting this injunction.
There will be a court hearing in January.
Uber's Quebec General Manager Jean-Nicolas Guillemette issued a short statement after the ruling, stating: “We are pleased with today’s ruling and our focus remains on offering a quality transportation alternative under the terms established by the Quebec pilot project.”
Last week a judge denied a request for an injunction to stop Uber, and would hold a hearing in January 2017 as to whether or not Uber is violating existing law.
Lawyer Marc-Antoine Cloutier had argued that since the provincial government has yet to finalize its pilot project with Uber, Uber is not yet operating legally.
