Quebec taxi drivers ready for more pressure tactics

Quebec taxi drivers will start applying pressure tactics if the provincial government fails to table legislation on the ride-hailing serviceUber in the coming weeks.

• Quebec's UberX drivers may be expected to rent taxi licenses
• Mass UberX protest by Montreal taxis sparks official calls to suspend app
• Quebec says it could take action to recover taxes from Uber and its drivers

The Comit provincial de concertation et de dveloppement de l'industrie du taxi, the province's taxi industry committee, says when it comes to challenging the rise of Uber, the possibilities include blocking city streets and holding a strike.

"When there is theft, the robber should be in prison," George Tannous, the president of the committee, said.

There are rumours that legislation will be late.- GeorgeTannous, president ofQuebec'staxi industrycommittee

Tannousadded that fines and seizures aren't enough to deter Uber drivers, and that taxi drivers are losing money every day.

Quebec is expected to introduce legislation in April concerningUber, whichallows drivers without taxi licenses to offer rides in the city.

Drivers likeTannousare worried that the legislation won't be tabled by Transport Minister JacquesDaoust, who has floated the idea of buying back some of the province's taxi permits whileforcingUberdrivers to rent taxi licenses.

"There are rumours that legislation will be late,"Tannoussaid.

MouhcineElMeliani, who represents 800 Montreal taxi drivers, warned that if the government doesn'ttablelegislation against the ride-sharing serviceby mid-April, taxi drivers may resort to pressure tactics, which could include a strike or blocking some roads.

"We're going to mobilize all 4,300 taxi drivers. They won't work for four days. There won't be any taxis in the city," ElMelianisaid.

Over the last few months, Quebec taxi drivers have called on the government to take action againstUberas it continues to expand across the province and the country.

• Quebec taxi drivers seek injunction against Uber
• UberX stealing cabbies' jobs say protesting taxi drivers

The taxi industry says it's meeting Tuesday, adding that it plans to contact contact both the transport minister and the premier this week.

No delay, government says

When reached for comment Monday, Melissa Turgeon, a spokeswoman for the transport ministry, told CBC there is no delay and that everything is progressing on schedule.

Turgeon would not give exact date for the tabling of the legislation, stating that many ministers are involved so it could take some time.