Yellowknife (Oct 24/03) - A Yellowknife cab company wants city council to lift a six-month residence requirement for new drivers.

Cordi Yaceyko, owner of Somba K'e, said the cab industry is the only industry to which this restriction applies and it makes it difficult to recruit new drivers.

Somba K'e manager Bill Slade told the municipal services committee Tuesday that such a requirement not only deters people from working in the industry, but it also contradicts the Fair Practices Act.

"We all have our own training programs," said Slade. "Under the Fair Practices Act, we can't ask someone their residence. We want to be treated like every other company in town."

A clause in the Fair Practices Act says an employer may not refuse employment because of place of origin.

Slade said cab drivers make low wages and really have no incentive to wait six months before getting hired.

"And many only work there temporarily," he added.

Slade said it doesn't take six months for someone to become familar with Yellowknife streets.

"They are saying every cab driver is stupid," he said.

Coun. Blake Lyons said he has no problem with removing the clause in the Livery Bylaw and replacing it with a driving test.

"People's rights have been redefined since the clause was first implemented," Lyons said. "Is it how long they've been here or how well they know the community?"

A driving test would quiz potential drivers of addresses and shortcuts throughout the city.

Cab drivers also require a Class IV licence.

Not all cabbies are keen on removing the clause, however.

"I think with this new recommendation, we're going to flood the cab business with unprofessional and uneducated drivers and we don't know where they may be coming from," said Fadil Memed, a driver with City Cabs.

"Six months is better than two weeks or the next day. For the individual intellectual person, it might even take less time, but the more time, definitely the better."

Council is expected to address the issue during Monday's council meeting.