All drivers providing taxi-like services in Quebec must have permits: Transport Minister

QUEBEC CITY – All drivers must have permits, regardless of what kind of car they drive, stated Transport Minister Jacques Daoust as he tabled Bill 100 Thursday.

The bill redefines “taxi transportation services” as any service where a driver accepts a fee for travel, directly affecting Uber as a “ride-sharing” service.

Bill 100 introduces greater flexibility in taxi pricing, including allowing different fares depending on the time of day.

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However, it maintains the importance of having one framework for managing the transportation of people in the province.

“The Commission des transports du Québec is required to set the basic rate structure that applies for all servicing areas and is given the power to set special rates which may vary depending on the servicing area and the categories of transportation services,” states the bill.

Anyone who provides a taxi-like service without holding a transportation permit can be fined anywhere between $2,500 to $25,000 for individuals and $5,000 to $50,000 for corporations.

If they advertise taxi services without a permit, individuals could face fines of $5,000 to $50,000 and corporations can face penalties between $10,000 to $100,000.

The minimum and maximum amounts of fines will double for anyone facing a second offence, and tripled for any subsequent offence.

Another major change in the act is the language, replacing the word “call” by “taxi transportation service request,” perhaps to pinpoint the fact that Uber uses an app.

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According to the bill, “the Government is granted the power to determine the number of servicing areas…as well as the maximum number of taxi owner’s permits that the Commission des transports du Québec may issue in each area.”

Drivers must also provide residents with the ability to evaluate the quality of service to make sure there is a standard of conduct across the industry.

“We are now diligently studying the bill proposed by Minister Daoust and its implications for close to half a million users and for thousands of drivers-partners who are counting on Uber’s technology to make ends meet,” said Jean-Christophe de Le Rue, Uber Canada spokesperson, in response to the bill.

Bill 100 also contains safety measures for cyclists by increasing fines for dooring, as well as stipulating a minimum distance of between 1 metre and 1.5 metres that vehicle must keep when passing a bicycle.

The bill is expected to take effect this summer.