Uber seeks 'compromise' with Quebec government

Ubersays it wants to find a compromise with the Quebec government in the wake of legislation tabled last week aimed at imposing new regulations onride-hailing services.

Transport MinisterJacquesDaousttabled reforms to provincial taxi laws last Thursday,which, if passed,would forceUberdrivers to have a taxi permit and taxi drivers' licence.

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"This bill will ultimately shut down our operation in Quebec, but we want to remind people today that we want to collaborate,"company spokesmanJean-Christophede Le Rue told CBC News.

"We want to come out with proposals and solutions and propose ideas for how tomodify this law to make sure we can continue to operate, but also so we can create good competition in the industry and make sure all the players can continue and make sure there's an equity in terms of fiscal obligations."

The remarks are the first from the company since the legislation was introduced last week. Uber also released a statement saying it wants to find a "compromise" with the government.

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If the bill passes, anyone offering taxi transportation services without holding a permit would face fines of$2,500 to $25,000.

Companiescould befined up to $50,000.

Quebec's taxi drivers, for their part, have been largely supportive of the bill. At a news conference on Sunday, a union representing 4,000 driversTheRegroupement des travailleurs autonomes Mtallos expressed hope the bill would be adopted quickly.

But they also want the government to drop a provisionthat would require taxi drivers to adopt the surge-pricing model used by Uber, whereby prices fluctuate with demand.

Uberextends an olive branch

In the past,Uber has threatened to take their popular service out of the province if it judges the bill too strict.

On Monday, the companyconceded it can do a better job of working with the province.

"We have heard that we were maybe arrogant at some places and some moments and we want to make sure that that won't happen in the future,"de Le Rue said.

"We are here to collaborate, we want to stay in Quebec. It's a great place to do business in terms of the sharing economy our products are super popular but we need to be a good corporate citizen."

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The Liberal government has faced heat for the legislation, with critics saying the province needs to be more accommodating to new technology and the so-called"sharing economy."

'Fiscal responsibilities'

Daoust hasjustified the measures by saying they are necessary for the province to tax the revenues of Uber drivers.

As it stands, the majority ofUberdrivers in Quebec about 75 per cent work less than 20 hours a week and therefore don't make enough to meet the $30,000 threshold requiredto register and collect tax.

De Le Ruesaid Uber could be prepared to make some concessions, specifically to make sure sales tax is collected from Uber drivers. The company will offer more details soon, he said.

"We will propose them [concessions]in a few days and hopefully we will be able to go to the parliamentary commission that was announced last week,"he said.

In a statement of his own, Daoust said Monday he's looking forward to learning the specifics and said Uber would be welcome to participate in upcoming hearings on the bill.

Premier PhilippeCouillardpromised to launch a project on the sharing economy, but suggested thegovernmentisn't about to re-draft its Uber bill.

"Thesharing economy is many things, both present and future," Couillard said.

"It is also about companies who are good corporate citizens, who behave with equity and justice, and who own up to their fiscal responsibilities."

Other jurisdictions, such as Toronto,have taken a different approach than Quebec, with the cityvoting toloosen restrictionson UberX,allowing driversto pick up passengers without a taxi licence.

Calgary, by contrast, introduced rules that ledUber to suspend operationsin the city.