Quebec offers more help to taxi-permit owners as it rushes to pass Bill 17

The Quebec government is proposing new measures to compensate traditional taxi drivers who paid for expensive permits which willbe abolished ifBill 17, the proposed legislation to deregulate the taxi industry,is passed.

After many weeks of discussion with industry players, Transport MinisterFranois Bonnardelsaid Monday that compensation will be paid rapidly rather thanover five or sixyears.

In addition, the aid program for taxi-permit owners will increase from $10 million to $40 million.

Finally, the government has committed to award traditional taxi drivers the exclusive contracts for adapted transport.

If passed, Bill 17 will fully integrate app-based ride-hailing serviceslikeUber.

Taxi permits would be abolished, territorial restrictions removed and a single set of requirements would be imposed on all operators on areas such astraining and background checks.

Bill 17 stipulatesthatonly vehicles identified as taxis, with rooftop lanterns and taxi meters,would be able to wait at designated stands. Only taxis wouldbe allowed topick up people who hail them from the street or contact them through a dispatcher.

Bonnardelhas said that the proposed legislationwill put an end to various pilot projects launchedby Philippe Couillard'sformer Liberal government, including one allowing Uber to operate in three cities in the province: Montreal, Quebec City and Gatineau.

The minister is hopingBill 17 will be adopted by the end of the week, especially considering that the province's Uberpilot project is coming to an end on October 14 and cannot be extended.

Taxi drivers in the province have been voicing their frustration as they've watched permits that costas much as $200,000 a few years ago become worthless with Uber's entrenchment in major Quebec cities.