Quebec to hold public hearings on Uber

CTVNews.ca
Feb. 3, 2016

Saying "we cannot live with two separate laws," Transport Minister Jacques Daoust has announced a parliamentary commission on Uber.

The announcement comes the day after 4,000 taxi drivers filed a request for an injunction preventing Uber from operating in Quebec.

"I am not against technology... and the technology we are inventing today is so easy to use," said Daoust.

"I want the people to tell us what they want."

Daoust did not offer a specific date, but said he wanted this to happen "in the weeks to come" and wants to have a regulatory framework in place "soon."

Uber says its App-based car service has been very popular since it began operating in Quebec.

The App allows customers to hail a ride to go from Point A to Point B, and handles the payment as well.

Riders say they prefer it because one of the options, UberX, is cheaper than paying the government-imposed rates for a legal taxi.

Taxi drivers are opposed to Uber specifically because they have jumped through all the legal hoops to acquire permits, licenses, and insurance.

However UberX drivers can be anyone -- meaning they do not have the legal permissions nor the insurance required to cover paying passengers.

Many other governments are dealing with the legal problems caused by a flood of people willing to toss regulation to the wind in search of a cheaper fare.

Last summer Quebec's government waffled over whether or not to approve Uber, and decided to put a discussion of the matter on hold because many younger members of the provincial Liberal party liked the app.

In recent weeks Ontario's insurance regulator approved a request from Aviva Canada to create an insurance policy for drivers carrying paying passengers.

That is the first such insurance policy on offer in Canada, and it's only valid for 20 hours per week.

Meanwhile Edmonton became the first Canadian city to formally approve Uber.

That city's bylaw creates a new type of work permit for app-based car services such as Uber.

In exchange, Uber will pay Edmonton six cents per ride.