A voice for cab drivers in Halifax is calling the latest fare increase vital for the industry.
Dave Buffet says many are struggling after two years in a pandemic and now record high gas prices.
“I am noticing a tremendous reduction in my disposable income, even if we gross the same amount as before the skyrocketing gas prices, obviously we take home a lot less. It’s really having an impact,” Buffet said in an interview with our newsroom.
As soon as you hop in a cab now in Halifax, it’ll cost $4.70 (base rate) and the charge per kilometre has risen 13 cents to $1.75. The city approved the increase at their last regular meeting in May, and it represents the first increase in cab fares in 10 years in the city.
“It’s a double edged sword for [taxi drivers],” Councillor Waye Mason said during the meeting. “Right now they’re simply not making enough money as independent drivers…the fares don’t justify the cost of the drive. At the same time, they know that this could impact their industry in a different way and temporarily drive down usage.”
Industry numbers show that the average cab ride in Halifax is 4.7 km.
So, most riders will see an increase of about 14.5 per cent on their trips.
“We took such a major loss in the last two years with lockdowns and less people travelling, I would describe it as some people are hanging on the edge of a cliff…and some people have fallen off.” explained Buffet.
Typically, an increase like would need to go through the transportation standing committee, but because of the unprecedented increases to fuel, it bypassed that committee and was presented directly to council for a vote.
It passed unanimously.
