Taxis from fifteen cities on strike Tuesday morning

Starting Tuesday morning, taxi drivers from across the province, from Gatineau to Gaspé and Quebec City, will be on strike in turn this week.

Initiated by the Association of Taxis of the Regions of Quebec (ATRQ), the strike will affect all regions of Quebec by Thursday, except for Montreal, the drivers of the island not part of the Association.

Drivers are invited by the ATRQ to stop working from 9 am to 11 am, in order to send a message to the Minister of Transport, François Bonnardel. They will be able to demonstrate as they wish, each in their respective region.

Taxi drivers resumed their mobilization last week to try to get better compensation for the value of their taxi permits.

Bill 17, which is currently under consideration, aims to abolish the taxi permit system, allowing new players like Uber to offer their services.

Dozens of drivers demonstrated against the bill Monday night in front of the Casino de Montréal.

As for the rotating strike, it should last about three weeks.

"We want to first draw the attention of the Minister," said the spokesman of the ATRQ, which does not exclude "intensify" his pressure later, if necessary.

Tuesdays: Vaudreuil-Dorion, Coteau-du-Lac, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Sept-Iles, Prévost, Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Chandler, Gaspe, Mont-Tremblant, Mont-Laurier, Matane, Sainte-Therese, Alma, Magog , Shawinigan, Drummondville and Saint-Elzéar.

Wednesdays: Rivière-du-Loup, Granby, La Baie (Borough of Saguenay), Rimouski, St. Jerome, Coaticook, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Farnham, Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Terrebonne, Sainte -Agathe, Saint-Eustache, Joliette and Sherbrooke.

Thursdays: Quebec, Laval, Le Gardeur, Lachute, Trois-Rivieres, Granby, Baie-Comeau, Thetford Mines, Thetford Mines, Jonquiere and Chicoutimi (Saguenay boroughs), Repentigny, Rouyn-Noranda, Gatineau, Cap-aux-Meules and Mont -Pretty.