Iqaluit (Apr 19/04) - People will soon be paying an extra 50 cents for cab fare.

Council has approved an increase to raise taxi fees to $5 from $4.50.

Not all the councillors agreed with the increase. The motion passed by a five-to-four vote. Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik broke the tie with a vote in favour of the increase.

Coun. Simon Nattaq was opposed to the increase. He added that the increase will have a big impact on the residents.

"I don't like this request at all. I think the taxi companies are taking advantage of the community," he said.

Coun. Goola Nakasook, who also voted against the increase, said council should inform residents before they start increasing the fares.

"I'm totally against this," he said. "What about the people who can't afford to pay the increase," he said.

Coun. Glenn Williams, who voted in favour of the fare increase, said he thought this was a legitimate request.

"We are supposed to review the fares every year. We are three years behind," he said.

Williams added that if people think the prices are too high they can always use the city's public transportation.

While council is split, the issue hasn't really hit the community.

Julie Kautuq said seeing an increase is a little surprising, but she didn't have a problem with paying $5.

Alexia Cousins, a student at Inuksuk high school, said she doesn't see any impact.

"When I take a cab, I usually just give the driver $5. I don't keep the 50 cents," she said. "I usually take a cab three or four times a week."

Increase long over due

Craig Dunphy, general manager of Pai-Pa Taxi, said the increase has been long overdue. He said costs for drivers are constantly going up.

"When you bring a car up here, right away it's going to cost you $15,000 to $20,000 just in repairs every year. That's not including insurance and gas prices," he said.

"In the last three years everything has increased," he said.

Dunphy said he does expect to hear some negative feedback about the increase. He added that so far most people haven't minded the increase.

The increase is expected to take effect sometime in June, after council approves the new taxi bylaw, which is currently under review.