Uber says new regulations expected next week to govern the taxi industry will likely force the company to leave Quebec.
The taxi industry says if that's the case - good riddance.
Taxi drivers held another anti-Uber protest in front of the national assembly Wednesday.
The Couillard cabinet was meeting to discuss new the legislation to regulate the app-based car service.
“At the cabinet there's full agreement on the bill that will be tabled next week,” said Transport Minister Jacques Daoust. “Everything is written, so far.”
While Daoust won’t say what is in the bill, it is expected to treat UberX drivers as taxi drivers, and require them to acquire taxi driver licences. Permits will also restrict the number of vehicles on the road, and insurance requirements will likely be stricter.
Uber has said it cannot function under the same conditions as existing taxis, and so will cease operations in Quebec.
“Minister Daoust is looking to shut down Uber. He's living in the past and he wants to protect the status quo and the monopoly of taxis,” said Uber Quebec general manager Nicolas Guillemette.
Treating Uber drivers like full-time taxi drivers isn’t right, said Guillemette.
“It's equal but it's not fair,” he said. “Fifty per cent of our drivers drive less than ten hours.”
Taxi drivers say they’ve been waiting for the government to establish clear regulations ever since Uber arrived.
“It's simple blackmailing that they're doing to the government. If they want to leave, then leave,” said taxi union spokesperson Benoit Jugand. “Eighteen months ago, before they started working in Quebec illegally they should have come to the government and they should have proposed something to the government.”
There are also reports Uber has been paying the polling firm CROP to encourage Quebecers to support the company, and then transferring the phone call to the offices for the individual's MNA.
In February, the city of Calgary approved a bylaw to regulate the service. Uber said it couldn't operate there under those conditions.
This week Toronto city council approved regulations that make the minimum price for UberX rides the same as for a taxi, and will require the company's drivers to get a new licence similar to taxi drivers. UberX drivers in Toronto will also have to be approved by the city.
Uber Quebec said it would be open to something similar.
“In Toronto, they will charge a tax of 20 cents per ride. We are open to it. Taxi doesn't need to pay that. It's not equal, but it's fair,” said Guillemette.
Quebec's bill regulating the industry could become law by summer. Uber is vowing to fight it.
