Loss of value of taxi permits
The class action aims to compensate taxi permit owners for expropriation by the Quebec government, in an amount equivalent to the market value of the permits before the decline observed following the arrival of Uber. The plaintiff alleges that by adopting the Loi sur le transport rémunéré de personnes par automobile, the Quebec government expropriated taxi permit owners without paying fair and reasonable compensation.
Latest news
The trial will run from April 1 to April 24, 2024, for a total of 13 days at the Palais de justice de Montréal. The room at the courthouse where the trial will take place has not yet been determined and will be communicated later to members who have registered. You can register at the bottom of the page.
The trial is public and all class members are welcome to attend, either in person or via the Teams link. During the trial, taxi permit owners, government representatives, financing company representatives and economic experts will testify.
In the event of success, class members will be contacted to explain the next steps and how to obtain their compensation.
Conditions to be part of this class action
You are part of the class action if you hold or have held a taxi owner’s licence in the province of Quebec since October 28, 2013.
Registration form
You can register at the bottom of the page to receive information on the developments of the class action.
For more information on what it means to be a member of a class action, you can consult our What are class actions section.
Summary of the class action
On October 28, 2013, the company known as Uber began commercial activities of remunerated transportation of people by motor vehicle in Quebec without holding the necessary permits to engage in such activities.
On October 15, 2016, the Government of Quebec adopted a pilot project that allows Uber to offer taxi services without a permit, whereas any other person who wants to offer taxi services must hold a permit whose value could be more than $ 200,000 before Uber’s arrival.
On September 20, 2016, Dama Metellus, a taxi owner and driver’s permit holder, filed an application to authorize a class action against the Government of Quebec alleging that, by gross negligence and refusal to respect and act respect the laws of Quebec, it has in fact expropriated the taxi licence holders.
On October 31, 2018, Justice Mark G. Peacock authorized the class action for taxi owner permit holders.
On March 28, 2019, Justice Silvana Conte approved the content of the following notices to members. You can view here the short notice or the long notice.
On December 18, 2019, the Applicant filed an Application for Leave to Amend the Originating Application. The purpose of this amendment was to include all holders of taxi owner’s licences in Quebec in this class action, regardless of the territory covered by the licence. On January 16, 2020, Justice Silvana Conte granted the Application for Leave to Amend the Originating Application and ordered new notices to be published to the class members. You may view the short Notice to members or the full Notice to members.
For information on the loss of income for taxi drivers, see the class action Jean-Paul v. Uber Technologies Inc.