by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 10/97) - The sun almost set on Sunshine Cabs Monday night.

The smallest of the city's three taxicab companies, Sunshine appeared before council Monday to argue a notice of suspension issued by municipal enforcement following a complaint about the number of cabs on the road.

"Who laid the complaint?" asked Ald. Kevin O'Reilly at the start of the public hearing.

"The complaint was laid by Yk Cabs," responded city administrator Doug Lagore.

"That's what I was afraid of," said O'Reilly, who also took exception to the fact that city staff supplied no information about the issue until the hearing began.

Municipal enforcement director Paul Gamble recalled responding to the complaint on Nov. 28, giving Sunshine four hours to bring 10 cabs to city hall for viewing and inspection.

The new taxi bylaw requires companies operating in the city to have a minimum of 10 cars.

"Rather than having it wide open so anyone could have a cab on the road at any time, a minimum of 10 cabs was required," explained city administrator Doug Lagore.

Gamble said Sunshine did not comply with the order and a check with the territorial Department of Transportation revealed registration certificates for seven of the company's 10 cars had expired. Another check indicated only five of the cars were insured.

Sunshine argued Monday that the bylaw does not require those cars to be registered and insured.

"It's our right to determine how many of our cars should be on the road at any one time," Sunshine president Nancy Howden told council Monday. "In no other business does the city say how many employees a company needs to have to operate."

Howden said that in slower periods, the company cuts costs by cancelling insurance on vehicles and letting registrations lapse.

Aldermen debated different passages of the bylaw in an attempt to sort out whether registration and insurance for 10 cars is required only at the time of applying for a city licence or all the time.

Lagore and Ald. Blake Lyons were the only two to argue the bylaw clearly requires cars be continually insured and registered.

Debate then turned back to the lack of preparation time council had on the matter.

"I agree with Ald. O'Reilly, that having this dropped in our laps is frightening to say the least," said Ald. Cheryl Best.

Ald. Robert Slaven agreed, saying he feels "very uncomfortable ruling on this without having the bylaw in front of me."

At the suggestion of O'Reilly, the matter was deferred until Dec. 15 at noon. Council also noted it voted last month to review the taxi bylaw.

The decision to review was also sparked by a John Dalton, who criticized the existing regulations.