Uber reaches agreement to stay in Quebec

Adeal was reached between Uberand the Quebec government early Thursday which allows the ride-hailing appto continue operating in the province during a one-year pilot project.

The agreement in principle was announced just after midnight by Transport Minister Laurent Lessard.

Lessardsaid in a statement that the company has agreed to make concessions to its business model in order to comply with Quebec laws and regulations.

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He said the deal means there will beone type of permit for all drivers, though it wasn't immediately clearwhether that meansUberdrivers will have to have taxi permits.

Full details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Permits were a main sticking point in the negotiations.A new law aimed at regulatingUber, passed in June,would have forcedUberdrivers to take out a taxi permitor risk fines up to $25,000.Uberhas also agreed topay taxes.

Uber Quebec general manager Jean-Nicolas Guillemette said the companydecided to continue operating under the pilot project to give Quebecers"more options to get around town or use their car to earn income"and to show a willingness to work in a regulated industry and "be a partner in innovation."

"In the days to come, we'll have more to say about how this pilot project impacts riders and drivers,'' he added.

Down to the wire

The province agreed to delay the implementation of its new law by 90 daysin order to give both sides time tofigure out howUberwouldconform to the new rules.

The deadline to come to that agreement was midnight Thursday, and theUberapp riskedshutting down in Quebec if no deal could be reached.

Lessardsaid talks with the ride-hailing servicewere at a standstill for most of the day.

• Quebec government strikes deal to allowUberto keep operating

Without a deal,the province'sautomobile insurance board, la Socit de l'assurance automobile du Qubec,wouldbegin toenforce the new law.

That would have meant not only seizing vehicles, as they do already, but also seizing drivers'licencesand enforcing stricter fines.

Uberhadissued a plea for support to all its users via email, asking them to tell the government why they support "ridesharing and innovation in Quebec"ahead of the looming deadline.

'Too big to be stopped'

UberdriverSimonRivestsaidsome drivers were considering moving to Ottawa or Toronto so they could keep operating their business.

He wasconfidentUberwould come to an agreement with the province, eventually.

"Even if an agreement isn't reached tonight, in a few weeks it will be back,"Rivestsaid. "Uberis too big to be stopped."

Driver DanielBlaisowns an ice cream shop and says he works forUberfor fun.

"After you try it, you love it,"Blaissaid. "You get to meet people, get the story of their life in 15 minutes."

A tense night ending in celebration

In a last attempt to be heard, about a dozenUberdrivers held a protest atLaFontainePark at 10 p.m. Wednesday night.

RamiHamdiwas at the protest and said it would be a very sad day ifUberceasedoperating in the province.

Hamdisaid he'd be willing to pay taxes on fares, especially since he said he earns more money being anUberdriver than he did at his previous job.

"Even if I paid tax I could still support my family and pay the bills,"Hamditold CBC News. "We're making good money."

When the group heardthe agreement was reached, theycelebrated.

"We are still on, thank God,"Hamdisaid.