Province Reviewing Northern Taxi Medical Trip Rate

Friday, April 18, 2008 at 15:22

 

 

Health Minister Don McMorris says he has instructed officials at Saskatchewan Health to look into rates paid to northern cabbies for medical trips.

 

The issue came to a head recently when the lone taxi operator in Pinehouse stopped making the trips.

 

Henry James Smith says he can no longer afford to take clients to La Ronge and Prince Albert, because of the high cost of fuel.

 

Smith has called on both levels of government to increase the rates given to taxi businesses for such trips.

 

McMorris agrees its time to review those rates.

 

Northern taxis receive $0.75/km for medical trips — a rate Smith says has only been increased once in the 17 years he’s been in business.

 

That rate hike was made six years ago.