Taxi drivers call Quebec deal with Uber 'betrayal'

While the Quebec transport minister says the agreement struck with Uber is fair for all parties, taxi drivers are furious aboutthe deal they say amounts to a betrayal.

The agreement sparked a protest outside the Transport Ministry's offices in Quebec City, andtaxi drivers are threatening to block the Quebec bridge.

Some drivers are refusing to work, saying they will not provide service at the Jean Lesage airport or at theVideotron Centre Thursday evening during an international hockey game.

• Uberto continue operations in Quebec following11thhour agreement

Pilot project

Under the one-yeardeal,announcedaround 12:30 a.m. Thursday,Uberdrivers won't have to hold the same permits as taxi drivers, which can cost thousands of dollars.

Quebec transport ministerLaurent Lessard pointed out that when taxi permits were first given out, they were free. Their value explodedwhen permits stopped being issued, he said.

As an attempt to address that, each time someone usesUber,the company will pay a flat fee to the government, whichwill go into a fund to help modernize the traditional taxi industry. It's not yet known how much that fee will be.

Lessard said he will make the details publiconce they arefinalized, but couldnot say when that would be.

'All they care about is the money'

A group representing taxi dispatchers say the governmentpromised the value of taxi permits would not be affected and that all drivers would be treated equally, but that its members feel "betrayed."

"Today I realizethat being patient and followingthe rules does not pay in Quebec. Here, the government kneels before roguemultinational companies instead ofrespecting itscitizens," spokespersonAbdallah Homsysaid in a statement.

GeorgesBoussios,president ofChamplainTaxi, says the governmentshowed it doesn't really care about taxi drivers.

"All they care about is getting the money they're owed. All they care about is the money they'll be making with every ride," he said.

Background checks, limited hours

Under the new deal, Uberdrivers' hours will be limited and Uber will pay additional penalties if it goes over a certain number of rides per week.

But like taxi drivers, Uber drivers will have toundergo background checks,have their vehicles inspected and the companywill have topay all applicable taxes to the government.

They will also be required to holda class ofdriver's licence reserved for taxi drivers.

In a statement,Ubergeneral managerJean-NicolasGuillemettesaid the company is stillevaluating its ability to offer "quality service to riders and drivers"under these new rules,but felt it was important to continue operating in Quebec.

"We want to demonstrate that we're ready to work in a regulated industry and be a partner in innovation," he said.

'It changed my life'

The details of the dealmay not have been revealed yet, but for dailyUberuser JoshTrager, the agreement is a relief.

Ifwe were to loseUber,it would almost be like theinternetbreaking.- Uber user Josh Trager, who is legally blind

Trager, who is legally blind, relies onUbersince theapplication allows him tozoom inand easily contact a driver.

"It changed my life," he said. "I was able to get around."

Hesays Uberallowshim to be independent, andhe uses the application on a daily basis.

"I feel like now being accustomed to Uber. If we were to lose Uber, it would almost be like the internet breaking."

Uniform set of rules

AlexandreTaillefer, founder of To Taxi, an electric cab fleet launched last year,said the success ofUberin this province opened eyes to the fact that consumers were looking for change in the industry.

But he added that the company displayedwhat he called an "incredible arrogance" when it first set up here.

He said he is pleased the agreementcreates a set of rules for everyone to follow.

"WhenUberoffers rides for 25 per cent off, that's easy to do when you don't have the taxes and permits to pay for," he said on Radio-Canada's Gravel le matin.