Taxi industry to launch court challenges to Uber pilot project

CTVNews.ca
Sept. 13, 2016

Members of the taxi industry will be heading to court to block Uber from operating in Quebec.

Industry spokesperson Guy Chevrette said the taxi industry has no choice but to take legal action against the provincial government and its proposed pilot project with the ride hailing company.

"How can a minister tell us for 15 days that Uber was illegal, then change his mind one day and say it's legal? Who called him? Who changed his mind?" said Chevrette.

Taxi drivers gathered Tuesday in Montreal to discuss their options after Transportation Minister Laurent Lessard made it clear Monday the provincial government will not abandon a pilot project to allow Uber to operate in Quebec.

Under the provisions of the agreement, Uber will pay the provincial government less than one dollar per ride in taxes and fees, with a portion of that going toward a fund to modernize the taxi industry.

Taxi owners said they felt betrayed by the agreement because they had been promised earlier this year that Uber drivers would be forced to a purchase a permit to operate a taxi, the market value of which is up to $200,000.

Instead, they say the government has created two systems, with existing taxi drivers being forced to pay much higher fees.

Chevrette said the government's pilot project is not entirely legal.

"We will deposit a cease and desist order [Wednesday], and we will head to court Thursday to obtain an injunction," said Chevrette.

He said that according to industry lawyers, the government has skipped many steps in implementing a pilot project, namely a failure to hold public hearings and to give 20 days' notice of a change in policy.

He added that legal action would only be the first step in the battle against Uber, hinting there would be strikes and protests.

"We know that we might offend people, we know that we might upset people, but we have no choice," said Chevrette.

Benoit Jugand, spokesperson for the Steelworkers' Union that represents thousands of taxi drivers in Montreal, said even in the brief time that Uber has been working with the government, the multi-billion-dollar company has been cutting corners.

"Uber is not respecting the details of the agreement that it worked out with the government," said Jugand. “The government decided to sign a deal with Uber and we have proof that Uber has already violated that deal so the minister said to us all the three groups that went and meet with the government yesterday they said they can only resign that contract if they violate any clause. Well we're asking the government to re-sign that deal.”

He also wondered why the government was not insisting Uber respect provincial demands.

"The minister told us that he cannot punish Uber, he can only resolve a dispute. Well come on!" said Jugand.

Chevrette added that anyone who trusts Uber is in for a rude awakening.

"This company doesn't care about Quebec. It doesn't care about taxes. It doesn't care about anything. They operate in fiscal paradises," said Chevrette.

"How can they operate? Because the Young Liberals call it ride sharing. Ride sharing my eye. They are liars, they are cheats."