Montreal airport authority warns passengers about illegal taxi drivers
Illegal taxi drivers are posing a safety risk for passengers at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, says the city's airport authority (ADM).
ADM says drivers without permits to operate at the airport are soliciting customers in the terminal, offering them a ride for a fee.
Close to 400 incidents relating to illegal transportation have been recorded since January, says ADM.
Francois Milette says he had an unsettling experience in December when a driver became aggressive and demanded more money.
"We paid what we were expecting to pay, but it was not a nice drive," he said.
The problem is also a concern for permitted taxi drivers.
"It's very hard, very hard for us. Every time we fight with them," says taxi driver Mongi Kahlaoui.
The president of Taxi Champlain blames the issue on the deregulation of the taxi industry in 2019.
"For about five or six years, I've been saying we will become the Wild West, and we have become the Wild West," says George Boussios.
The Montreal Taxi Bureau, which monitored the industry, no longer exists, and the airport can only give citations for illegally parked or unattended cars.
Taxis are now under the jurisdiction of Controle routier Quebec.
ADM says it's asking the government to make solicitation illegal again and make sure taxis with permits are the only ones picking up passengers.
Airport officials are running an awareness campaign to make sure passengers take the necessary precautions to start their trip safely,
The Transport Ministry did not reply to CTV's interview request by deadline.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.