Pembroke – The co-owner of Danny’s Taxi Service told city council last week if a transit service is launched in Pembroke and only runs during daytime hours, it will cut into their busiest time and threaten their future.

“If the bus service cuts deeply into our revenue, then it is possible we will end up like the other four cab companies that opened and closed in the town in the last 12 years,” Angela Smith told council last Tuesday night. “If that were to happen then I would hope the bus service would work because this would be the only form of transportation you would have at that point.”

She said 25 people would be without their jobs and without any taxi companies, it would cause issues for Canada Post, the Regional Hospital, mental health services, school co-op programs and other services.

“These are just a few of the clients we deal with on a daily basis and if we lose enough business to close, who’s going to take people home from the bars? That is a big concern to me because people will drink and drive. That’s been proven.

“And how will shift workers get home when they work late night? Will they have to walk the streets alone from work? I mean, would you want to walk home on these streets in this particular climate?”

Ms. Smith said the city has tried a bus service on previous occasions.

“Whether they were successful they certainly are not here now, so I think that speaks for itself,” she said.

She also questioned the affordability of launching the service, asking if the city can afford it. Understanding the project could cost about $3 million, she wondered if the money would be better spent on city roads, noting her company spends tens of thousands of dollars on parts and repairs every year on its six cars.

“Honestly, as a taxpayer I would rather see that money going into repairing the roads,” she said.

Presently, Danny’s Taxi is overrun in the cab business, she said, adding they would love to expand their fleet but with the bus issue and the growing concern over the condition of city streets, they don’t know whether or not to expand.

“At this point we are holding off until we see what happens,” she said.

Ms. Smith said Danny’s has been servicing Pembroke and area for about 30 years, 24/7.

“There are single cab companies in town, but they can turn their phone off and go home,” she said. “So, we have taken steps, we have decided this is our stand, we’re going to service the public seven days a week, 24 hours day. That’s our choice, but with that schedule that means we have people who haven’t had a holiday or proper holidays probably in 30 years.”

She said she understood council wanting to get better rates for seniors and students and for people who just don’t have the income.

“I get that, but everything else is going up. Car parts have doubled and, in some cases, even more, so I don’t how we could do anything any cheaper than what we are doing right now,” she said. “In fact, with the carbon tax and the expenses we go through right now, it will be a possibility we will have to raise the rates as it is.”

She reminded council buses will have to travel on the same roads as taxis noting there will be extreme maintenance requirements.

“They’ll have to charge quite a bit to remain economically viable,” she said. “It’s expensive and I’m not blaming anybody here for the conditions of the roads. It’s an inherited system. It happens over time.”

Ms. Smith said she is not opposed to a bus system but is against putting taxpayer dollars into a system that hasn’t worked in the past and all of a sudden will be in direct competition with cab companies.

She said one idea she has tossed around is a system where seniors, students and others go to city hall and buy vouchers to use towards taxi fares. She said that could be done rather quickly and at a mere fraction of the cost of a bus system.

“I am not opposed to giving people with limited income better rates but doesn’t everyone deserve to get a better rate?” she asked. “We talk about seniors and we talk about students but what about the people who are the working poor? What about the people who are working for $16.55 an hour? They are working really hard and they are trying to make ends meet and rent is not cheap.

“And there are people on ODSP. There are a lot of people right now who can barely afford rent. I guess I am kind of opposed to giving a cut to one person and not to another person. Everybody is in the same boat right now financially.

“I am not opposed to giving somebody a break, but if you can tell me how to do that in this economic climate, then we are definitely willing to listen.”

Ms. Smith said they are not getting rich and people go out of business all of the time in the business.

“We are out here servicing this community and trying to stay in business so I am hoping that when you do consider a bus system or any kind of transportation system, you would consider these things and you would consider them when you are making your decision.”

In reply to a question from Mayor Ron Gervais on how a voucher system would work, Ms. Smith gave several examples of organizations they work with using vouchers.

Aim Is Not Put Anyone Out of Business

Councillor Pat Lafreniere said a transit system has been on the city’s agenda for quite some time, but

it’s not yet a done deal.

“What you are proposing is nothing new,” she said. “Councillor (Andrew) Plummer brought up a voucher system maybe we could look at and I was supportive of that too, maybe subsidizing the taxi companies to offer lower rates. So, it’s not 100 percent off the table.”

She said the city is still exploring transit because there is a need for it.

“I think there are a lot of individuals who don’t take a taxi at all. They walk and we have seen an increase in foot traffic so those are the individuals. They would use transit only, probably, but I’m just saying we hear you loud and clear.

“We don’t want to put anybody out of business.

“We don’t know if transit is coming. You are right. It didn’t work in the past and we’re still investigating a lot of different things including grant money.”

Coun. Lafreniere said if the city adopts a transit system it would be a pilot project. She said grant money would be required because she is not into spending tax money on something just to try it out.

Councillor Ian Kuehl asked Ms. Smith if her company had considered shifting from a taxi business to a ride share business.

“Basically, the money you would have to spend is on the technology to do it,” he said. “You already have the cars. Have you given any consideration to that or more flat fee models?

Ms. Smith said she has thought about it but not for a very long time because a new city by-law allowing it just came into effect.

“That was not a possibility before. Now it is a possibility and it is something we would definitely look at.”

She said using a voucher system would be fairly straight forward for city hall and it would be up to the city to determine who got vouchers. When Coun. Kuehl said it would require more staff time; she responded it would not take a lot of staff time.

“We don’t have a lot of staff time to give either,” he said. “Our staff work hard, and then they work harder and then they work harder than that.”

Ms. Smith said she could reconcile the vouchers but didn’t think they would be comfortable taking her word for it.

Coun. Kuehl said he felt there is never going to be a one-system solution but liked that they are engaged and having discussions because he doesn’t think it’s going to be a one-size fits all solution.

“From my perspective, council does need to have an open mind and I welcome not just this input today but I hope you are going to keep being involved as we go down this road because as Coun. Lafreniere said we are not at any end yet. The new taxi by-law coming in was the beginning.”

Councillor Troy Purcell said he envisions an integrated transit system and council must keep an open mind and move things forward doing what’s best and fair for all residents.

“I understand the pressures you are under,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Brian Abdallah said it’s important to work together and keep everyone employed, adding council will have to decide when transit costing comes back whether or not to proceed with a three-year pilot project.

Councillor Ed Jacyno said Danny’s Taxi provides a very vital service to community 24 hours a day.

“I want to thank you for your positive critique, and not coming here and tearing us apart,” he said. “You’re here to look for solutions for everybody and for the welfare of the entire community cost wise.

“We look for a solution to move forward and, of course, to save the taxpayer money. We don’t want to see 20 some people out of work, so obviously there may be some solution working together.”