SUBSCRIBE: Missing news on social media? Subscribe to CHAT News Today's DAILY newsletter and stay up to date with your city.

Taxi companies asking for fare increases

Jun 21, 2017 | 9:00 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Taxi fare rates in Medicine Hat have not increased in nearly ten years.

Deluxe Central Taxi and Care Cabs have requested the City of Medicine Hat increase the rates in the city.

City staff are suggesting the distance rate be increased from 15 cents per 100 meters to 17 cents.

Wait time costs would be raised from 50 cents a minute to 57 cents if the proposal is approved by City Council.

Doug Glock, manager of Care Cabs, said the increases are necessary to keep up with inflation and fleet maintenance.

“Insurance has gone up, repair shop [costs], tires, even the price of vehicles everything has been on the rise and we’re finding it getting pretty tight,” he said.

Glock adds the cab companies were planning to ask for the increases a couple of years ago but held off when the downturn in the oil and gas industry happened.

If the changes do get approved city staff say a five kilometer taxi ride would still cost less than the average rate for comparable sized cities in the province.