A case for Uber: The short-sightedness of Quebec’s politicians

In the next few weeks, the Quebec government is expected to introduce legislation which will force Uber to abide by certain tailor made regulations including a weekly taxi permit for drivers. This will in all likelihood mean the end of Uber in Montreal considering the company refused much less onerous conditions in Calgary and other cities.

The view towards Uber by the Quebec government is one dimensional and simplistic. They don’t see Uber as anything other than a competitor to the taxis and a threat to the industry. Ultimately, the general handling of Uber is another sad indicator of how out of touch elected officials are with its people, innovation/technology and demonstrates their misguided priorities.

Uber has been so widely and quickly accepted because of the taxi industry’s lack of customer service for decades. In Montreal, the taxi industry was known for its filthy cars, rude drivers, poor service and refusal to take credit card payments. Further, a handful of individuals with pricey licenses exploited many drivers working 12-hour shifts.

Uber has transformed how we get around cities and it has brought down drunk driving fatalities . It also changed the nature of employment, offering opportunities for part time jobs/extra income for everyone from students, single mothers to war veterans. An Uber driver can turn the app on or off when they want to and work on their own schedule rather than work a ten hour plus shift.

We have heard all the weak arguments time and time again.

It is not fair to the taxi drivers trying to earn a living.

Actually, the system only benefits license holders that rarely drive the cars. They hire a handful of drivers and have them compete against one another for more time. This is trickled down to the consumer: lack of payment options, dirty cars and dangerous driving to earn the most on a long shift. I have personally had cab drivers verbally assault me because according to them the ride was not long enough.

Uber offers drivers the ability to drive on their watch and run their own business rather than those with the taxi permit/license.

Is Uber safe?

I’m actually confused when I hear this. A cab driver has no clue who I am. I flag the car down or call the dispatcher and no information is exchanged. As such, cab drivers are subject to much risk. The passenger too has little information apart the faded illegible driver permit. Meanwhile, in an Uber ride, the driver has my information including name and payment history and I have the driver’s. This also guarantees no driver is left without payment.

Any incident which occurs is easily traceable. Can we say the same for a taxi?

Uber doesn’t pay taxes.

To the contrary, taxi drivers demanding cash and rejecting credit cards have a larger opportunity to evade taxes. Uber is a company based in San Francisco and while they may not pay full corporate income tax in Quebec which is perfectly normal under the circumstances they create jobs, many jobs. In turn, these drivers pay more taxes which are unavoidable given all that is paid through the app.

However, Uber is not simply than a transportation company but as CEO Travis Kalanick stated a ‘demand company’ whether that is a lift or a bite to eat through the newly launched UberEats. Looking at Uber as solely an alternative to taxis is a shortsighted view. Uber can solve many issues and change city landscapes: pollution, congestion and allow for parks in places of parking lots.

Eventually, the addition of self-driving cars partnered with Uber means even less cars on the road and fewer deaths that can completely change our lifestyle and time we spend in cars and the related expenses. Imagine that at the tap of button you can ‘request’ a self-driving car to your door where you can car pool with neighbours for the price of a bus ticket. This is not a futuristic utopian idea but one possibly five to ten years away.

Unfortunately, the government of Quebec has like many others decided to secure the existing archaic system which allowed the taxi industry to thrive and decide to ignore demands of its people. The only losers here are the people that will have little choice but to ride taxis dictating the terms and continue to live among emissions, traffic, etc.

Quebec is a province with great opportunity boggled down with political priorities which have little bearing on society to advance and its people. From a language police that forbade the use of the word ‘Pasta’ and ‘Calamari’ to making life difficult for big box stores that bring in jobs & spending. In fact, considering the myths and unfounded horror stories of doing business in Quebec, the province should be embracing companies like Uber to demonstrate it is willing to move forward and be at the forefront of innovation. Instead, Quebec has predictably moved to secure the landscape for an industry which has refused to appease its customer base and used violent tactics to protest Uber. As is the case with our infrastructure and economy, only once we realize how behind we are will they attempt to change.

One hundred years ago, the trolley’s lobbied governments to get rid of the ‘jitney’ a modern day Uber offering lifts for a nickel (‘a jitney’). Governments regulated the industry and led to the world we live in today: in the U.S. people spend 7 billion hours a year in traffic, 1/5th of our carbon footprints come from carbon footprints and 36 percent of our land and space is taken up by cars. Today, technology is offering another chance to solve the issues around pollution, transportation and cars. Instead of moving forward, our government has decided to move backwards. Politics at its finest.

The government thinks this is a fight between an two competitors. As with most things, they could not be more wrong. They can likely stop Uber for a short time but putting a band-aid on technology and innovation will not last. The reality is that politicians are extremely disconnected from what will better society and the needs of its people and stuck in an age old state of mind. This is a perfect example.