Uber has announced that it plans to make its rideshare services available throughout Quebec starting this fall.
The company currently only operates in Montreal, Quebec and Gatineau as part of ongoing pilot programs introduced in 2016.
Uber’s move into the province comes as a bill deregulating Quebec’s taxi industry comes into effect in October.
“Since the beginning of our pilot programs in Quebec, we have been collaborating with the ministère des Transports and will continue to work with their teams and key industry stakeholders to develop sustainable mobility solutions for everyone, in all regions, said Jonathan Hamel, the head of public affairs for Uber in Quebec.
“We are grateful to the Quebec government for its confidence in our operations and the hard work needed to bring ridesharing to the province,” he stated.
Uber is encouraging Quebecers who are interested in working with the company to sign up to drive on the Uber app.
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Uber’s move into the province comes after years of infighting between Uber, the taxi industry and the Quebec government. The ride-sharing company’s expansion in the province aligns with the implementation of Bill 17, which is set to take effect in October. Bill 17 was passed last year and deregulates Quebec’s taxi industry, making way for companies like Uber and Lyft to operate locally.
Lyft is also currently working to launch in Quebec in the fall, though has yet to announce an official date.
The move also comes as Uber, as well as Lyft, are fighting against new regulations in California requiring the companies to treat drivers like employees rather than independent contacts. Both companies have argued to courts that they will be unable to comply with the new regulation and threatened to cease operations in the region.
This article was originally published on MobileSyrup.
BetaKit version with files from Meagan Simpson