SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Representatives from both sides of the argument agree that a city-wide taxi strike during the winter months would be bad for everyone, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

Fadil Memedi from City Cabs said he is looking for another job because he can't make ends meet. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

"If they go on strike, who are they striking against? They're going on strike on themselves. It's insanity, a business should be able to run on supply and demand," said Diamond Cabs owner Ted Yaceyko, who has spoken out against the proposal of city regulated taxi numbers.

City Cab driver and member of the Yellowknife Taxi Drivers Association Fadil Memedi is in favour of a freeze on taxis permitted on the roads, and has suggested a strike may be imminent, but would prefer it didn't get that far.

"I don't really like radicalism. It's not to the benefit of the consumer, the city, or the drivers. However, when you're left with no choice, and you're desperate, you'll do anything to get the attention of the city," he said.

The Yellowknife Taxi Drivers Association warned city councillors they would strike if the city refused to impose a cap on taxi licences at a municipal services committee meeting last May.

The 'municipal services committee proposed several changes to the current bylaw relating to taxis, and after having been given a month to review the proposals, taxi drivers will get the chance to have their say at the next meeting on July 20.

"It's going to be a busy day," said Mayor Gordon Van Tighem. He went on to suggest that calls for a cap on taxi numbers were unlikely to be granted.

"There are things to be considered, but not necessarily adopted," he said.

Yaceyko said the reason many taxi drivers are struggling to make ends met is poor management.

"I wouldn't hire another driver unless there's a need for one. If they're overworked I'll get someone else, but as it is they're not," he said.

He said he cannot be sure Diamond Cab drivers wont strike, but he is confident everyone will turn up for work.

"They're all independent business men so I can't tell them what to do. But I'm very confident that we'll all be working – there might be somebody but I don't think so," he said.

Memedi said it is no surprise Yaceyko does not want to freeze taxi numbers.

"He's an owner. So naturally for him, if there were 200 cabs in his company and no one was making any money, it wouldn't make any difference to him as long as he collects his rent from every driver," he said.

Memedi, who has resided in Yellowknife for 14 years, said he and many of his colleagues are looking for other jobs, and may have to move out of the area.

"The market hasn't regulated itself so far, all it's done is create this problem. The time to look for another job has come, because I can't make any money," he said.

Despite an exodus of taxi drivers illustrating market regulation at work, Memedi said it's a cruel result.

"It's a really a poor way for the city to respond to us. Some of us truly love this job, and we're good at it," he said.

"They regulate everything else: What we can charge, who can do the job, what colour our cars can be," Mamedi said of the city. "They regulate everything but the number of cabs."