Sask. taxi group calls for ‘Flex Fleet’ to address high demand

A group representing Saskatoon’s cab industry is putting forward a proposal aimed squarely at cutting out ride-sharing services like Uber.

The Saskatchewan Taxi Cab Association (STCA) wants city council and the province to allow for what they’re calling a Flex Fleet, meant to handle demand for rides at peak hours.

The idea is to have private cars with trained cab drivers running under the same rules as regular taxis, but these would only be licensed and insured to operate at specific times – like New Year’s Eve, or the hours after a major event at SaskTel Centre.

In a dig at Uber’s pricing, which sees fares rise with demand, the association says the Flex Fleet would still charge the same as a regular taxi.

In a media release, an STCA spokesperson said the Flex Fleet could easily be up-and-running by no later than Christmas, depending on how quickly both levels of government could give their approval.

The STCA release went on to note that the Flex Fleet would potentially be a way to help curb Saskatchewan’s drunk driving rates, which remain the highest among all Canadian provinces.