Like many businesses, taxi companies in P.E.I. are struggling to stay ahead as inflation and costs continue to rise. | SaltWire
East and west travel includes a $0.25 increase for each boundary line crossed, and there is a $2 charge allowed for each additional passenger over 11 years of age. SaltWire Network confirmed with taxi drivers under different companies, who did not want to be interviewed, that riders were being charged on average a dollar more than the approved rate.
“You've got to keep adjusting your prices or else you will be working for nothing basically,” said Corrigan on fares. Taxi fares in Charlottetown are regulated under the city’s taxi bylaw and are determined by a map of the city split into six zones. Depending on the destination zone, fares are approved to range from $7.50 to $17, with an additional $2 for extra passengers over 11 years of age. In April of 2022, the city passed an amendment allowing for a $1 increase to fares. However, a communications representative confirmed that there has been no approval for increased rates since then, making any increase in fares illegal. Corrigan said another application for an approved increase was recently submitted, asking the city to allow an extra dollar for fares; however, he said that process takes some time. “We’ve got to co-operate with the Charlottetown Police when we increase our fares, but sometimes when it comes to bureaucracy and dealing with the City of Charlottetown, things take a while,” he said.Corrigan said he understands applying to increase fares makes taxis less affordable, especially for those on fixed incomes. He said at one point, taxi companies had put a request into the city and province for a subsidy program for those with fixed incomes who rely on taxis. However, that request was declined, and support was instead shifted towards Charlottetown’s bus system, said Corrigan. While the bus system provides an important and essential service for many, some need to rely on taxis for emergencies, Corrigan said. “A lot of people can’t rely on a scheduled transport system. If their doctor calls and says they have an opening right now, the bus isn’t just going to go get them,” he said. “It’s been a struggle, really the last few years, making sure you have someone there throughout the whole day.”Corrigan would like to see more support for taxis and collaboration between the province, city and taxi companies in the future, such as subsidies or additional training programs. Conversations with the city have made some movement, he said, but the province has remained quiet on the topic. “ did reach out to a couple ministers recently, but we’ve got no returned calls on that,” he said, noting they called the ministers of transportation and tourism two months ago. SaltWire Network contacted the ministers’ offices to confirm they had received inquiries on conversations around taxi assistance. In an email, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure confirmed the office had been contacted. “The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure ... is looking to pull together some government staff to meet with the individuals included in the letter to better understand their concerns and ideas on how they feel government may be able to help them,” said the spokesperson in the email. While specifics on that meeting haven’t been nailed down, the spokesperson said the department would be reaching out to the groups “in the coming weeks.” Cody McEachern is a business reporter with the SaltWire Network in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached by email at
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