Guelph Taxi loses licences over allegations of limited service

A Guelph Taxi vehicle is pictured on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015. (Max Wark / CTV Kitchener)

The smallest of Guelph’s three taxi services has lost its licence to operate.

Guelph Police, which regulates taxis in the city through a taxicab bylaw, say Guelph Taxi and its four cabs can no longer transport passengers for payment.

“Guelph Taxi was not complying with our bylaw,” Chief Jeff DeRuyter said Tuesday.

“Other companies are following the bylaw, whether it comes to insurance or how they staff their office.”

Police allege that the cabs company wasn’t keeping a dispatcher at its office 24/7, which is a violation of the rules governing taxis in the city.

Joe Morrison drives for Canadian Cab – one of two other cab companies in Guelph, along with Red Top Taxi.

He says he was glad to see police move in, given Guelph Taxi’s alleged non-compliance.

“We want everybody to play by the rules that we’re playing by,” he said.

Guelph Taxi is able to appeal the decision to the city’s police board.

The action against them comes a little more than two months after Uber expanded its app to Guelph.

Since then, seven drivers have been accused of operating cabs without proper licences.

The situation isn’t the same as with Guelph Taxi, DeRuyter said, because taxi companies can operate as long as they follow the city’s rules.

Uber, on the other hand, is considered an illegal service in Guelph.

“There’s an expectation that we are going to enforce the existing bylaw,” he said.

Nobody was present at the Guelph Taxi office Tuesday morning.

Two phone calls to the business were not answered.