Quebec taxi industry bands together to push for fair deal under CAQ's promised reforms

Two Quebec taxi drivers' unions have joined forces with aleague of taxi permit owners to present a united front toTransport Minister Franois Bonnardelas he prepares to implement sweeping reforms to the industry.

Bonnardel promised this week that he would put an end to the Uber pilot project in the province and implement changesthat would "modernize" the taxi industry and level the playing field.

For years, members of the taxi industry have complained that the government allowed ridesharing apps like Uber to get the upper handby failing to regulate their business.

Bonnardel said his plan was to create a more "equitable" system that also promotes innovation.

He accused the former Liberal government of "pushing back important decisions" instead of "fixing the problems in the industry once and for all," and emphasized how reform would ensure a fairer system.

"Everyone has to play by the same rules," saidBonnardel.

On Sunday, members of the taxi industry came together to discuss the future of their business.

"There is a real threat right now that we're trying to face, but instead of facing it every association alonein its corner, what we're trying to do is put ourselvesall together," said KamalSabbah, of the Montreal taxi owners association.

At the meeting, many drivers expressed an opennessto switchto an Uber-style system, so long as they're fairly compensated for expensive taxi permits.

HervJerome, a former driver and owner of a taxi permit, told CBC that the government needs to be willing to buy back devalued permits atabove-market prices.

"I have a permit I tried to sell. Nobody wants to buy because there's no future for taxis," he said.

The Transport Ministry issued a statement in response to CBC's request for comment Sunday, saying thatthe industry will be consulted as the new law takes shape.