Quebec's UberX drivers may be expected to rent taxi licences

Quebec Transport Minister Jacques Daoust said UberX drivers may be expected to rent temporary taxi licences in the future.

"As a baseline, we won't keep saying, 'You don't need a permit, you don't pay taxes,'" Daoust said. "People don't realize, but when they ride a taxi the amount they're paying includes taxes."

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Doust added that he didn't think simply imposing fines on UberX drivers was the right approach.

He floated the idea that the province could then use the revenue coming in from the new rentals to buy back licences from taxi drivers looking to sell.

He added that these are not concrete plans, but that he was considering this approach.

"We want to respect and be fair to people. We will give flexibility and ensure that new players who want to buy permits can do it."

Taxi licenses in Quebec can cost up to $200,000.