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
On March 25, 2026, the Quebec Court of Appeal issued its decision following the hearing held on November 25, 2025. The Court of Appeal granted the Quebec government’s appeal, overturned the judgment rendered on June 21, 2024, by Judge Silvana Conte, and dismissed the class action.
The Court concluded that there had been no disguised expropriation: in its view, a taxi owner’s license does not constitute property subject to expropriation. Furthermore, even if it were such property, the Court of Appeal held that there was no disguised expropriation in this case since taxi drivers were able to continue operating their taxi businesses and generating income under a new legislative framework, despite the abolition of their taxi owner’s licenses. Mr. Metellus’s cross-appeal, which sought to have compensation determined based on the value of the licenses in 2014 rather than in 2016 and to have the Government of Quebec ordered to pay punitive damages, was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
We intend to seek leave to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court of Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada grants leave to appeal a Court of Appeal decision only in exceptional circumstances, when the case raises issues of importance to the public or the legal community. In our view, this is precisely the case here.
To view the Court of Appeal’s decision, click here. To view the trial court decision issued by Judge Silvana Conte, click here.
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 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 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.
On June 21, 2024, Judge Silvana Conte issued a judgment on the merits, ordering the Government of Quebec to pay more than $219 million in compensation to thousands of former taxi permit holders. The Government of Quebec appealed this decision, and the plaintiff filed a cross-appeal requesting that the compensation be calculated based on the value of the permits in 2014 rather than in 2016. The hearing before the Court of Appeal took place on November 25, 2025, and the Court of Appeal rendered its decision on March 25, 2026 (see “Latest News” above), dismissing the class action and Mr. Metellus’s cross-appeal.
For information on the loss of income for taxi drivers, see the class action Jean-Paul v. Uber Technologies Inc.