Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (May 03/01) - The Inuvik taxi bylaw may see some changes that will put more cabs on the road.

The amendment proposes seven new taxi licenses be sold for the fee of $10,000 and will bring the number of licensed cabs to 30.

The 23 drivers now operating will have an option to buy their permits or continue on as they are until they retire or leave the business.

When that happens, the permit comes back to the town and put up for sale.

The amendment was proposed by Coun. Denny Rogers, who says the public wasn't being properly served with the existing bylaw.

The amendment proposes two types of permits: transferrable and non-transferrable.

"If you buy it, you will have the right to transfer it," Rogers said.

Coun. George Doolittle, who sits on the Taxi Commission, said the cab drivers he talked to would be reluctant to buy the permits at $10,000.

"If you run it up to 30, nobody is going to pay ten grand out there," Doolittle said.

He felt council should leave the bylaw as is, until it can be determined for sure that more cabs are needed.

"My own wishes are that we let this thing lie for six months to a year," he said.

Coun. Vince Sharpe called the amendment "reactionary" and agreed with Doolittle that council should wait to see how the new bylaw works out.

"What's the big panic here," Sharpe asked. "Why can't we wait six or eight months and see how the bylaw works."

Coun. Don Craik answered that the public is not being properly served under the current bylaw.

While the current bylaw has no fixed number of licences the amendment establishes a maximum of 30 licences.

Deputy Mayor Arlene Hansen questioned why council wanted to raise the number after they had just made such an effort to reduce the number.

Rogers explained that the reason for the previous bylaw was to establish owner-operator permits and eliminate absentee cab owners.

"I wouldn't care if there were a hundred permits -- it doesn't make any difference to us," Rogers said. "By selling the permits, we are getting out of the taxi business."

If the amendment is passed, seven new licences will be issued. If more applications are received than there are permits, Rogers said a lottery will decide who gets the permits.

"We put the names in a hat and draw seven names," he said.

Rogers said later that the taxi customers were facing long delays and something had to be done to increase the level of service.

"My responsibility is to the people of Inuvik and this puts enough cabs on the road to satisfy everyone," he said.

First and second reading of the bylaw amendment was passed with councillors Sharpe and Doolittle opposed.

Further discussion and third and final reading of the amendment will be held at the next council meeting.