The City of Saskatoon’s Transportation Committee has approved administration’s recommendation to add the taxi Commercial Curb Fee to the taxi fare to and from the airport, which would mean a bylaw change would be needed. It now will have to go before City Council.

Mark Wilson, Licensing and Permitting Manager with the Community Standards Department, told the committee that the request to have the fee included came from the Saskatoon Airport Authority, but it is also echoed by the taxi companies. It means taxi drivers would no longer be responsible for incurring the additional $2 charge for each customer they pick up or drop off at the airport.

Wilson explains that the curb fee began in 2019 when the Airport Authority introduced a dedicated commercial curb for taxis. The fee is for the development, maintenance and enforcement of the curb. He adds that a scan of what other cities does found that it is common practice for airport-related fees to be added to the taxi fare.