Pre-hearing on ‘Yellow Cabs’ application postponed to New Year

GRANDE PRAIRIE, B.C. — The Grande Prairie-based ‘Yellow Cabs’ taxi franchise has confirmed the BC Passenger Transportation Board has granted a date extension of the pre-hearing conference, in connection with its application for a metered 21-vehicle service in Fort St. John.

Originally set for today, company spokesperson Navi Thundal says the telephone conference has now been rescheduled for Jan. 14, 2016.

It will include the company and the opponents to its application, which have met the submissions requirements of the five-member independent tribunal.

She says, right now, she only knows of two such opponents who have filed their intention to speak at the hearing, but she says her companies’ support letters easily outnumber them.

She’s also confirmed the company — which claims to have about 80 per cent of cab service in Grande Prairie — has turned to social media for public input and has started a “go petition” on its Facebook page.

Annually, the aforementioned board receives between 150 and 225 applications relating to the licensing of passenger directed vehicles in BC, and at the February hearing will consider whether there’s a public need in Fort St. John for the service the applicant proposes.

It will also consider whether approving the application would promote sound economic conditions in the BC transportation industry and whether the applicant is a fit and proper person, capable of providing that service.