Uber, citing new rules, planning to exit Quebec

MONTREAL — Uber said Tuesday it will cease operations in Quebec next month if the province doesn’t rescind new rules introduced last week, including one to require the ride-hailing app’s drivers have more training.

Quebec Uber boss Jean-nicolas Guillemette said the service will stop operating Oct. 14 if the government doesn’t back down.

Transport Minister Laurent Lessard announced Friday that Uber drivers would be required to undergo the same number of training hours as traditional taxi drivers —

35, instead of the 20 hours required previously.

Quebec also is requiring Uber drivers to get background checks, but Uber voiced objections only to the training rule.

Guillemette said the rule would make it impossible for Uber to continue in Quebec.

“Trying to impose on us the same thing that is currently done in the old taxi industry, I don’t think it will help us to move forward,” he said

Quebec’s government said it would not back down.

“I am very surprised that a big company, a big multinational like Uber, can’t find a way to use its application to train its drivers,” the transport minister said at a news conference in Quebec City.

“I am firm in my intention,” Lessard said. “We are not in negotiation mode.”

Uber’s announcement also was dismissed by the mayor of Montreal, Quebec’s largest city. “We need to have some regulation, and if they threaten to leave I don’t care,” Mayor Denis Coderre told BNN news channel.

Alexander Cioc, a 26-year-old who drives for Uber, said morale among his fellow drivers is low. He said drivers have to pay for the training the government requires.

“I know a lot of drivers who are quitting Uber,” he said.

Last week in Britain, authorities in London said Uber’s license would not be renewed when it expires Sept. 30.