Letter from the Comité Provincial de Concertation et de Développement de l'Industrie du Taxi (CPCDIT) - About the alleged "anti-Uber squads"

MONTREAL, April 9, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - In a context disrupted by the emergence on the Quebec market of illegal transport operators, a certain number of rumors have been circulating, in particular via social media, on the creation of private "squads" whose actions, not without violence, have appeared to specifically target persons doing business under the Uber X banner.

Alerted by these ongoing rumors and the seriousness of the alleged facts, the Board of Directors of the Comité Provincial de Concertation et de Développement de l'Industrie du Taxi (CPCDIT), an organization that represents the Quebec taxi industry, convened an urgent meeting to examine the situation. Subsequent to the meeting, the CPCDIT issued the following press release:

"The Board of Directors of the Comité Provincial de Concertation et de Développement de l'Industrie du Taxi (CPCDIT),

• After having been apprised of the information circulated by various media and via social media networks and reporting the creation of alleged "squads" to counter illegal transportation, and in particular against the operations in Quebec of the multinational company Uber and Uber X,
• After investigating these statements,

Noted that an extremely small number of incidents have in fact opposed regular taxi drivers operating legally and drivers acting in full violation of the laws and regulations on passenger transportation in Quebec.

The CPCDIT Board of Directors also noted that these incidents were limited to verbal exchanges between their protagonists and at no time led to any acts of violence, assault or legally reprehensible acts.

The results of the investigation led to the conviction that the incidents are neither organized or supported by any type of organization, but constitute a reaction (that is understandable) on the part of particularly vulnerable workers who are exasperated by the illegal practices and the apparent impunity which billionaire multinational corporation Uber appears to benefit from and by the threat that these facts constitute to their trade, income, public safety and the interests of Quebec and Quebecers.

It was also found that the existence of "anti-Uber squads" is in fact merely a new attempt to manipulate public opinion on the part of the multinational Uber, whose activities in this respect are in fact well-known.

This being said,

The Comité Provincial de Concertation de Développement de l'Industrie du Taxi (CPCDIT) would like to reiterate the following:

• Its policy positions, in this instance the fight against illegal practices in relation to passenger transport in Quebec and against all that such illegal practices induces in terms of risks to the safety and the individual and collective interests of Quebecers;
• Its conviction that this fight can only be carried out in a legal manner, by informing users of passenger transport of the risks of illegal practices in this area;
• Its actions aimed at raising the awareness of municipal and provincial decision-makers on the need to enforce existing laws and regulations on passenger transport.

Lastly, the CPCDIT is urging taxi drivers and taxi company owners to remain calm, to not react to any provocations, and to comply with the authorities' request by reporting any illegal situations they have been or may be witness to."

SOURCE Comité provincial de concertation et de développement de l'industrie du taxi (CPCDIT)

Danielle Cyr, Director General, Telephone: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]