UberX stealing cabbies' jobs say protesting taxi drivers

Nearly 100 taxi drivers lined up their cars in Pointe St-Charles on Thursday morning to kick off a protest against car-sharing services like UberX.

• UberX illegal, says Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre
• Uber Montreal requests to be regulated in Quebec
• Two Montreal UberX drivers fined and have cars impounded

They're asking Quebec Transport Minister RobertPoti to apply the lawand get rid of UberX once and for all.

"Business is down at least 25 per cent and it's illegal. People who are just using an iPhoneare hurting us," AshkanGorji, a taxi driver of eightyears, saidof UberX.

UberX allows drivers not licensed to operate as cab drivers the ability to use their own car to pick up passengers.

Taxi drivers say this is unfair both because UberX drivers present additional competition, as well asbecause taxi drivers are required to pay licensing fees UberX drivers are not.

Politicians have called UberX illegal, including Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre.

In December, Uber Montreal asked the provincial government to regulate itso that it could have clear operating guidelines in the province.

The protesting taxi drivers will visit Quebec Transport Minister Robert Poti's office before continuing on to la Maison Radio-Canada.