Lola Sashola, chair for the Blueline drivers' union, says Ottawa cabbies are very unhappy with the state of things. He says one plate should belong to one driver, not the current system where some individuals own over 50 plates, reaping huge profits from driver rental fees. It would be wise to look to New Zealand, a country of just 3.5 million, that largely deregulated its cab system in 1989. The deregulation was part of a series of spectacular reforms that transformed it from a highly insular country into a dynamic and globally competitive nation. During that time, New Zealand went from being ranked 32nd to third on a scale of economic freedoms put together annually by over 50 international organizations.
Cabbies can set their own prices and are free to remain independent or join a taxi company.
The number of New Zealand cab drivers has doubled in the last ten years, providing employment for more people and more flexible service for customers. The New Zealand system is still regulated, but only to ensure consumer protection such as bi-yearly safety inspection of vehicles. The rules that produced the same types of problems that Ottawa faces, are gone. A deregulated system would eliminate many inefficiencies in Ottawa. For example, each municipality's licenses are currenly valid only within that area, which means a cab from the Airport Ottawa Limousine Service, registered in Gloucester, can't pick up a fare in Ottawa, even if the customer wants to go to the airport.