Regina Taxi Fares Likely to Increase 8 Percent to Help Cover Rising Costs – Regina | Globalnews.ca

Taxi fares in Regina are likely to increase by at least eight percent starting in August to offset rising fuel costs and inflation.

The city executive committee had a brief discussion before approving the increase on Wednesday. Taxi fares are implemented by taxi regulations and are calculated using the Taxi Cost Rate Model (TCFM). The model measures specific cost factors affecting the taxi industry based on the consumer price index (CPI).

Talks with taxi brokers began in March of this year to determine if and how an increase was desired to account for rising fuel costs. The model was revised and resulted in a proposed eight percent increase in taxi fares.” Acting City Manager Jim Nicol said.

The brokers did not decide to go ahead with the changes at that time. On June 10, the taxi brokers wrote a letter to the city administration signed by the five brokers requesting that the increase be implemented. During the report’s finalization on Wednesday, the consumer price index was updated, resulting in an increase of 12.3 percent.

The last time taxi fares in Regina increased was in 2015 and they were up 3.8 percent. Del Van De Kamp of Van De’s Accessible Transit said with high inflation, rising fuel costs, expensive auto parts and rising labor costs, the approved increase is not enough.

He said it’s a slap in the face to all of the city’s taxi brokers who don’t have enough to keep up with the cost of living because the quality of drivers is going down.

As of Wednesday, only two taxi brokers had thrown their support behind the additional increase.

“An additional taxi broker who was planning to speak today, who was looking for a raise to match headline inflation rather than an index of the CPI. However, that is not what is in the statutes or the policy that we follow, and the other three brokers did not answer what their preference was,” Nicol said.

Count Shanon Zachidniak (District 8) expressed concern about the impact of the rate increase on marginalized groups in the city. She asked if the city offers any type of support or discount to members of the community who might be disproportionately affected.

The administration noted that no such supports are provided, but certain community organizations provide grants that can fund such programs. The administration added that the increase represents the maximum a taxi service can charge, but it is up to them to charge less or give discounts to individuals or groups in the community.

Following council approval, an amended bylaw would return to the council for official status in August.

When it does, the initial meter drop fee for the first 120 meters will increase from $4.00 to $4.25. The distance fee will be changed from $0.25 for each additional 138 meters to $0.25 for each additional 127 meters and the hourly rate for hired taxis will be increased from $36.00 per hour to $39.00 per hour.

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