The taxi industry in Quebec is about to receive a $250 million financial aid package from the province.
Since the provincial budget this spring, we've known every taxi permit holder in Quebec would receive some sort of compensation for the challenges their industry is facing from ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft. Now we know that all will receive $1,000, and most will receive a whole lot more than that: permit holders in Montreal, Quebec City and the Gatineau region will receive between $2,800 and $45,700 in additional compensation.
Taxi drivers in the City of Montreal - where the Transport Ministry says there are nearly 4,000 active taxi permits - will receive the full $45,700, and drivers in inner-central districts of Quebec City and the Gatineau region will receive upwards of $20,000 as well.
Even more aid will be provided to taxi permits assigned to vehicles that are either electric or rechargeable hybrids ($8,000 and $3,000 respectively).
The Finance Ministry says there are 26 active taxi companies in Montreal and Quebec City, and that this money is aimed to help them adapt to both new financial challenges they and their drivers face in today's economy, and to help them retain the lost value of their permits.
This also may not be the last cheque that taxi drivers see: Minster Carlos Leitão added that he would be "open to a second round of compensation."
Some cabbies, however, are skeptical. George Bussios, a spokesman for Taxi Grand MTL, says too many questions were left unanswered about how committed the province is to sustaining the industry in the long-term.
"I didn't think he answered any questions concerning Uber and the future of the industry," he said, adding, "if I'm not mistaken, I didn't hear a complete confirmation that if the CAQ wins the next election, [that] we are going to get that money."
Leitão says aid cheques will be in the mail "in the coming weeks", and that they should start to arrive before Election Day this fall. He added this isn't a move that could be easily reversed should there be a change in government following this fall's election, since the money has already been allocated in the budget and ministerial decrees authorizing the payments have been issued.