SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A comparison of three Canadian cities with populations similar to Yellowknife's reveals the number of taxis in the NWT capital is exceptionally high.

Spruce Grove, a city of more than 19,500 people and 15 minutes from Edmonton, does not restrict the number of cabs allowed on its streets, but its four taxi companies only have one to two taxis each.

The town of Essex, Ont., has more than 20,000 residents and also does not cap taxi numbers. The town has three taxi operators with about 10 taxis in total.

Cheryl Bondy, deputy treasurer for the Town of Essex, said there have been no notable stirrings of dissatisfaction about the number of taxis from either the drivers or the public.

Whitehorse, with a population of more than 25,000, has about 50 cabs in operation. Even though this is significantly less than the approximately 140 taxis in Yellowknife, the number of taxi operators in the Yukon capital has ballooned over the past two years, prompting concerns about the quality of some taxi operators.

John Taylor, manager of bylaw services for the City of Whitehorse, said taxi standards are improving, however.

"We're always trying to increase the standards ... They have improved over the last couple of years," he said.

He added the city does not put any restrictions on the number of taxi licences, and taxi drivers have not made any formal submissions to it about the issue.

City Cabs driver Mohammad Basha was not surprised by the numbers in other comparable communities, adding Yellowknife is a unique case.

"Business used to be very good. Many of us who are immigrants would call our brothers and tell them to come here. Now business is going down, and we're trying to hold on," said Basha.

Last month, taxi drivers warned city council at a municipal services committee meeting that they would strike if council refused to impose a cap on taxi licenses. Basha said they are waiting for the right time to strike.

"We're not busy right now, so we're holding the strike for the right time," he said. "This town is going to be -40 C, and there will be no cabs."

He said he and many of his colleagues feel disenfranchised by the city.

"The city does not want to hear us," he said.

"It seems like many of us are treated second-class because we're immigrants."

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the compact size of Yellowknife, the temperature, and the habits of the public have resulted in the inflated number of taxis in the area.

"One of the things are the habits of youth, and the climate," he said. "We are more accustomed to taking a taxi here. It's part of the lifestyle. People either walk, bike or take a cab."