The taxi industry must keep up with the times, says transport minister

CTV Montreal: Taxis must keep up Quebec Transport Minister Robert Poeti told the taxi industry they must keep up with the times to avoid being overtaken by ride-sharing apps

The taxi industry must keep up with the times or risk being overtaken by popular car services like Uber, Quebec’s transport minister warned Wednesday.

Taxi drivers say they've lost a third of their business to Uber's services, which include Uber, where clients can use a smartphone app to see licenced taxis in real-time and pay for cabs automatically through the app with their credit card, and Uber X, which is the same service, except clients can order unlicenced taxis in a ride-sharing operation.

Uber X drivers do not have the permits required to transport paying customers.

Many, however, say the new options are long overdue.

“What you have to change is the mindset of the industry, of the drivers, the business models of this industry has to evolve so you can have pilot projects, you can have innovation,” said Michel Leblanc, CEO of Montreal’s board of trade.

Poeti brought two dozen taxi and tourism industry leaders together Wednesday to find solutions to help them compete.

One option brought to the table was creating a taxi driver federation.

“I think if you have the same rules for everyone everywhere, it will give another image of taxis – a better one and a better service to the client,” said Abdallah Homsy, president of Taxi Coop.

Still many want a crackdown on Uber X. So far 250 cars have been impounded, but Uber has covered the fines. Suspending a driver's permit, they say, would send a stronger message.

“If you take away the permit and take points, he won't want to repeat that, because we know Uber has a lot of money to pay and presently they pay,” said Dory Saliba of the Taxi Driver Development Committee.

Poeti has said he's considering that option, but refused to discuss it Wednesday.

“I think the solution is opportunity,” he said. “We have to take that opportunity to be more modern and give a better service to citizens.”

It could take weeks if not more to see changes on the road, but there's now a consensus this is a business that needs to give customers what they want.

Uber user Vanessa Damha is all for it – she uses the app on her smartphone to get around.

“I can see his exact location in real time…and your credit card is going to be charged through the app, so I don't have to do anything.”

As long as some taxi drivers refuse debit and credit cards, she said she'll stick with Uber.

“Everything is evolving around us, everything is changing, but the taxis keep their eyes closed and don't evolve and it doesn't match my lifestyle,” she said.