The taxi industry is still consumed by internal discord, price wars and a lack of cooperation with the Taxi advisory committee. That’s the message delivered to Common Council by the Taxi Advisory Committee. It complains there’s still not a workable association to represent the majority of the cab drivers and owners with virtually no input from the industry to the taxi committee.
The meters recalculated the fares in Saint John for the first time in 12 years with a 22% increase over the old “zone rates”. Common Council has been told there have been a small number of complaints received at the Taxi Inspectors office, City Hall and by the Mayor and Council due to the rate increase.
The Taxi Advisory Committee will not be recommending any changes to the current meter rate structure. This was the first increase in the taxi rates in Saint John in 12 years. The taxi committee points out the cost of living increase since 2012 has been roughly 27% and the taxi rate increase is under 20% so is not even keeping up to inflation.
The Taxi Advisory Committee claims the vast majority of the taxi industry still don’t accept the committee as the legitimate voice for them.
Nonetheless, the committee is asking for written input from members of the taxi industry and public at large before February 1st in order have any recommendations in place.
