Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Jan 15/99) - Town council has endorsed the taxi commission's decision to formally reject Unal Duran's appeal for a taxi permit after senior administrative officer Don Howden initially rejected Duran's application in November.

Howden had no choice because the bylaw is clear no new vehicle permits will be granted until the number of taxis on Inuvik streets dwindles below 20, says Coun. Garry Smith who is also a taxi commission member.

Though Duran drove a taxi for three years in Inuvik, his vehicle permit was suspended in 1991 for five years as part of a penalty for a bribery conviction and that time frame spanned the 1996 council's decision to freeze new permits.

Still, Mayor George Roach had some good news for Duran when he promised to discuss with taxi operators the chance of finding a car for Duran to drive at night.

"There is a need for more cars at night, if you've ever tried to get one at 2 a.m. after the bars close," Roach says.

"Rather than seek social assistance, it sure would be nice if he could drive a cab for a living."

Roach then dropped the idea of selling taxi permits at the committee of the whole meeting Jan. 11, before quickly adding, "but that's a can of worms we'd better not get into tonight."

Though the taxi commission is currently reviewing the taxi bylaw and Duran's concerns have been forwarded to the town's legal department, Duran says the decision to grant permits should be up to the community.

Two new public appointments to the taxi commission are likely, which will mean the commission's composition will be five members of the public, two taxi company representatives and two members of town council, according to Smith.

"I don't want welfare. I want to work," Duran says.

"They say, `Only 20 cabs on the street.' Why not 21?"

Several current drivers say they support the freeze because more cabs in Inuvik will mean less money for them.