L.A. Family Taxi has been operating in La Ronge since 1999. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

higher costs

Taxi rates increasing in tri-communities

Jun 15, 2022 | 2:36 PM

The cost to catch a cab in the tri-communities is increasing.

L.A. Family Taxi owner, Vi Werchola, approached La Ronge council at a regular meeting Tuesday with two requests. Her first request was to increase the initial price when getting into a cab from $3.50 to $3.90, as well as set the travelling cost to 10 cents per 40 metres.

Her second request was for council to limit the number of taxi licenses issued in La Ronge.

“We have been at the same taxi rate all of these years and, of course, this last year gas is just skyrocketing and it’s really just killing all of the taxi people,” Werchola said, noting the last price increase occurred in 2008. “Over the last years, things have changed drastically in this business. We don’t want to fold up and just go away because there is still a need for taxis.”

As for limiting taxi licenses, Werchola explained there hasn’t been anyone rushing to open another cab company in the tri-communities, but there’s no saying somebody might at anytime not knowing the current situation. She said if another company were to open, L.A. Family Taxi could leave La Ronge because there wouldn’t be enough customers to go around.

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Werchola also mentioned it’s difficult for the company to compete with private, unlicensed taxi drivers as well.

“Our family has worked extremely hard to provide a dependable service for La Ronge and the surrounding community for all of these years and now we are asking you for help,” she said.

Council agreed to increase taxi rates, but also decided to leave the number of licenses unregulated. Some councillors wanted to deregulate the rates as well, but there wasn’t enough support to do so.

“The purpose of the taxi bylaw is to make sure vehicles are certified and there’s a standard rate and a system for charging,” La Ronge deputy mayor, Joe Hordyski, said. “To me, recommending $3.90 from $3.50, I don’t think is unreasonable. I would be willing to support that increase. In terms of controlling the number of plates, I think over the years deregulating was the right thing to do and let the market adjust itself.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno