Quebec's taxi bill opens door to ride-booking apps with conditions

Quebec Transport Minister Franois Bonnardel tabled a bill Wednesday that he says will modernize the taxi industry in the era of app-based ride-bookingservices.

Bill 17 stipulatesthat only taxis would be able torespond when a customer flags down a ride on the street or requests one by telephone. However, it alsoopens the door to app-based ride-hailing serviceslikeUber.

If the bill becomes law, the app-based service willbe required to inform customers of the maximum fare they could face, and the customer willhave to agree to it "before a driver is informed of the trip request."

Bonnardel saidlast month that he would bring forwardthe legislation,toreduce the administrative, regulatory and financial burden on operators.

He said at that time the legislationwould put an end to various pilot projects launchedby Philippe Couillard's government, including one allowing Uber to operate in three cities in the province: Montreal, Quebec City and Gatineau.

The controversial pilot project was renewed for a year by the former Liberal transport minister,Andr Fortin, on Oct.12, just before the Legault government was sworn in.

The newly elected CAQ government said at that timeit agreed with the one-year extensionbecause it gave the new governmenttime to develop itsown policies.

That extensionoutraged taxi drivers, who accused Uber ofoperating taxis withoutthe safety, tax and commercial standards imposed on their industry.

A class action suit brought against the province by taxi drivers was authorized by Quebec's Superior Court a few days later. A victory for the drivers on this issue could cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars.

The government announced Mondayit will spend another $250 million to compensate taxi drivers who have watched the value of their permits plunge since Uber's arrival in Quebec.

This new sum will bring the amount that Quebec has compensated the taxi industry to$500 million.