Iqaluit committee debates hiking taxi fare to $7

Iqaluit's Taxi Review Board is looking at the possibility of raising taxi fares to $7 from $6.

The city's taxis use a flat rate per person and make multiple pickups. The last fare hike was in 2007. The committee wants to keep the elders' rate at $5.

Romeyn Stevenson, acting deputy mayor, says fares won't increase for a while yet.

"It would come into effect once the bylaw was changed," he said. "The committee would recommend to the council, the council would make a motion to change the bylaw, then somebody would have to go rewrite the bylaw, then it would have to come for first second and third reading."

The committee could hold a public consultation about the fare increase although it is not necessary.

It is also looking at installing cameras in taxi cabs. 

The next Taxi Review Board meeting is July 24.