Dragging Montreal's Taxi Industry Into the 21st Century

Like many cities, Montreal has been trying to drag the city’s taxi industry, at times kicking and screaming, into the 21st century. Many of the new municipal and provincial taxi rules made in the past two years—a business-casual dress code, accepting card payments, security cameras and background checks—have been met with drivers’ resistance, even as Uber creeps onto their turf.

Emboldened by Quebec’s storied and influential pro-union environment, Montreal’s taxi lobby has been strong and incredibly vocal in its hatred of Uber since the ride-hailing service first arrived in 2014. On top of holding regular protests, some Montreal cabbies have even roamed the streets in vigilante sting operations, at times even aggressively confronting Uber drivers and passengers. Mayor Denis Coderre has repeatedly expressed his disdain for Uber and the city’s taxi bureau has seized 679 UberX cars in 2016 alone.