Quebec to delay Uber law for 90 days

CTV Montreal: Delayed Uber law The law regarding Uber and the taxi industry in Quebec will be delayed until the end of the summer.

Uber’s lifespan in Quebec just got at least 90 days longer.

Transportation Minister Jacques Daoust confirmed on Tuesday that the law regarding Uber and the taxi industry in Quebec, which was set to be implemented Friday, will be delayed until the end of the summer.

Daoust is hoping for a win-win situation.

"There might be a way out of the problem we have now. At the end of the day we expect all parties to agree," he said.

The later deadline will giving the provincial government and the multi-billion-dollar transportation company time to negotiate a deal.

The taxi industry called the compromise "satisfactory," but asked Uber to cease illegal activities during this time.

In return, the taxi drivers said they are willing to back off from planned disruptions of major events this summer in Montreal and Quebec.

In a statement Wednesday Uber said, "It was agreed that Uber will continue its activities during the discussions on the pilot project."

Daoust is showing new openness, but said there's a limit to the compromises that can be made for Uber.

"Uber is maybe the way of the future but at the end of the day they have to be respectful of Quebec," he said.

The delay comes after criticism inside the Liberal party over Bill 100.

In mid-May, Liberal party youth wing president Jonathan Marleau said the bill was stifling competition and called on the provincial government to allow new practices.

The youth wing of the party also threatened to make life difficult for MNAs that did not support Uber.

Uber has come under criticism because it does not treat its drivers as employees, but instead considers them "independent contractors."

The company has said it cannot function if its drivers are required to operate under the same conditions as taxi drivers, such as having special driver's licences, inspected vehicles, or paying the same amount in taxes to the provincial government.

The Quebec Federation of Chambers of Commerce said they were pleased with the government's openness to the Uber model, saying that it was pleased the government recognized that there are "other business models to explore and create the space needed to set parameters for the future with respect for our tax rules."

Taxi drivers said on Monday that it was up to Uber to adapt to existing regulation if it wanted to operate, and not bully governments into changing laws so it can function.