Taxi drivers protested throughout Montreal on Wednesday to denounce the Quebec government’s deal with Uber.
More than 100 drivers took part in a slow-moving protest along the major highways running through the city before taking to city streets in the downtown core.
Drivers showed up early and angry at the provincial government.
"They don't give a shit about our family. You have to move. This is the jungle society. If you don't exercise your right they are going to smash you," said one driver.
The government published the details of its pilot project with Uber on Friday, and it will take another 20 days before it comes into effect.
Taxi drivers met with the Transportation Minister Tuesday but were told he does not have a mandate to negotiate.
As a result they're demanding a meeting with Premier Philippe Couillard over what they called a two-tier system that favours the ride-hailing app Uber.
They say it's simply not fair for the province to insist they pay thousands of dollars for permits and inspections, while allowing Uber drivers to do the same job with little more than a driver's licence.
"This is our livelihood, this is our retirement," said a driver. "We don't have sick days we don't have this, and we work day and night and you know we work 12-14 hours a day on a taxi."
They are calling on the provincial government to buy back their costly vehicle permits, which sell for up to $200,000 on the open market.
Taxi drivers say their revenues have dropped since Uber began operating in Montreal.
Meanwhile two requests for injunctions to stop Uber from operating have been denied, with judges ruling their livelihoods were not imminently threatened.
Drivers said they had no choice but to protest, and show how much they are hurting.
"If the society wants to (be) mad at us, it doesn't matter anymore because it's our livelihood, our family. Psychologically and financially we've been hurting for three years," said a driver.
At one point Wednesday's protest stalled when police began issuing tickets to taxi drivers who had parked their vehicles illegally.
But some cab drivers said that was a small price to pay, and others threatened to become violent if the government continued to support a two-tier system.
Drivers said the only thing they knew for certain was that they would continue to protest.