Opposition calls for new transport minister to take stand on Uber

Globalnews.ca
Aug. 23, 2016
By Raquel Fletcher

When the first taxis left Quebec City’s Videotron Centre Saturday night with their fares, other Celine Dion concert-goers waited in the rain for up to an hour.

“We had an agreement with the industry here in the city of Quebec,” Mayor Regis Labeaume said. “There’s been a breach Saturday night.”

According to the mayor, about 450 taxis were needed at the end of the concert, but as few as 93 were on the road by the end of the night.

Labeaume questioned whether the city may be better served by more options, like Uber.

The provincial government has said it will start regulating Uber under new taxi legislation starting next month.

The new transport minister said he hopes to come up with a solution where Uber will respect the laws of Quebec.

“So that there’s no loop-holes,” Laurent Lessard said.

The opposition is accusing the government of dragging its feet.

“After almost 70 days, we don’t have any clue - any answer - about the fact that the government has negotiated with Uber,” CAQ house leader, Francois Bonnardel, said.

The minister said he’s meeting with Uber next week.

A taxi industry spokesperson, Guy Chevrette, said the night of Dion’s concert was particularly busy with multiple events and that they will have enough cabs in the future.

He also added that if Quebec reaches a deal with Uber, there’s one condition: “Equality before the law, you know? It’s indispensable.”