Recently, a new city bylaw threatened to put a local taxi service out of business.

Allbility Transportation is a local shuttle service that caters to senior and disabled clients. They've been operating two wheelchair accessible vans in Moose Jaw for nearly 15 years now and many people depend on their service.

Owner and operator Kerry Philips, was shocked to receive the news that his business, which he runs out of his home, had been operating illegally since 2005. He was informed by the city licence inspector that the city does not permit multiple vehicle taxi services to be run from a residence. Philips' situation was brought to the attention of the licence inspector after a bylaw passed in June required the city's taxi companies to pay additional fees for every vehicle in their fleet.

"I've driven cab here for forty years and we've never seen these kinds increases and late fees. They want us to pay more than we pay SGI."

Philips got into the business of transporting wheelchair-bound clients after a back injury forced him into one himself for a time. He says if his service were to discontinue, the city would no longer have a taxi specifically for those in wheel-chairs that runs past 7:00 in the evening. Philips says he doesn't feel that his service is supported by the city's administration. 

"I was given no consultation at all on these changes."

Thankfully, after meeting with city officials, Philips believes that his service will be able to continue after a brief hiatus.

"We're gonna be able to keep going. I won't be able to make the September 1st deadline on all the payments, but at least we won't be totally closing. I'm just going to have to move to a commercial location. By the end of September, mid-October, I'll be back up running with at least one of my chair vans and then the second one shortly after that."

Philips says he feels encouraged by the support of Moose Javians during this unsteady time.