MONTREAL – People are nervous at Uber’s headquarters in Montreal after finding out Quebec’s transport minister would soon be tabling a law, possibly aimed at regulating its services.
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The 25 office employees and 8,000 Quebec drivers know that if the government legislates the company like taxis, they may soon lose their jobs.
“We will have to shut down. There is no doubt about it,” said Jean-Nicolas Guillemette, Uber Quebec’s general manager.
Transport Minister Jacques Daoust revealed the upcoming legislation to cabinet on Wednesday.
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It’s expected to come down next week.
Reports indicate the law will be strict, requiring Uber drivers to purchase permits like taxi companies: they’ll have to pay taxes and Quebec will limit the number of drivers on the road at any one time.
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Uber officials insist the measures go too far.
“They are asking a part-time Uber driver who works five to seven hours a week to pay the same fees as a taxi driver who drives 70 hours a week,” Guillemette argued.
“This is not fair.”
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Uber said half a million Quebecers use its service and the government is ignoring the needs of a huge portion of the population.
Yet, when pressed on the issue, the government said it doesn’t care if Uber leaves Quebec.
“If an international company is saying ‘you go my way or I’m leaving,’ I would just say ‘well, it’s too bad,'” said Daoust.
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Uber is hoping Quebec follows Toronto’s lead where, this week, city council set rules allowing the ride-sharing service to operate under different bylaws from taxis.
Daoust said in Quebec, Uber falls under provincial – not municipal – jurisdiction, and argued he has a responsibility to pass a bill that works across the province.
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Montreal’s mayor supports the taxi industry in pressuring the government to strictly regulate Uber.
“Bye-bye. I don’t care. I don’t care if Uber leaves,” said Denis Coderre.
“I am not going to be threatened by an enterprise. What is that thing, a bunch of goons? Everyone has to pay taxes, everyone has to be liable.”
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Uber has left a major city in a province before, pulling out of Calgary last fall after it didn’t like the legislation passed by city council.
Uber officials said they’re anxious to see what’s next for them when Daoust tables his bill next week.