Taxi drivers lose another legal battle after Quebec Superior Court sides with Uber

Quebec's traditional taxi industry suffered another blow on Thursday after the province's Superior Court rejected its demands to have Uber's operations declared illegal and its permit revoked.

Taxi companies, the union representing taxi drivers and other stakeholders argued Transport Minister Laurent Lessard exceeded his authority when he signed a deal with the ride-hailing company in 2016.

The agreement gave Uber a one-year operating licence in Quebec under a pilot project with the possibility of a one-year renewal.

Justice lise Poisson said in her ruling the transport minister didn't exceed his powers in signing a deal with the San Francisco-based ride-hailing company.

The taxi industry argued the pilot project created two parallel systems of taxis in Quebec that amounted to "unfair competition" against traditional drivers and permit holders.

Taxi drivers must buy or rent a costly permit to operate in Quebec, while Uber drivers, under the deal, were allowed to work under a different system allowing them to bypass the permit requirement.

Quebec taxi law, the drivers argued, only allowed the minister to enter into an agreement "with actual players in the industry and not outside actors."

"The law does not require, contrary to what the plaintiffs argue, the holding of a taxi permit in order to take part in a pilot project," the judge wrote.

"The court concludes the minister didn't exceed his authority in concluding a deal with (Uber)."

Neither Uber norrepresentatives from the taxi industry were immediately ableto be reached for comment.

Uber threatens to leave

Despite the favourable decision, Uber's future in the province remains uncertain.

Lessard said in late September he would renew Uber's permit but added new requirements regarding driver training and background checks.

Uber rejected the minister's demands and said it would leave Quebec by Oct. 14 if it couldn't come to a new agreement with the province.

• Uber threatens to leave if Quebec insists on stricter rules

Quebec's taxi industry has been suffering significant decreases in revenue since Uber entered the market because the company has disrupted the traditional business model.

For decades the government had limited the number of taxi permits in each city in the province. The cost of each permit soared to six figures, forcing owners to take out mortgages to purchase them.

Uber bypassed that regulation and started offering people rides without obtaining a permit.

Due to lower overhead, they undercut the traditional taxi industry and offercheaper rides than those offered by regular taxi drivers.