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In the end, only a handful of small “c” conservative councillors — appropriately wary of radical change and of the potential harm done to small businesses and local families — were left fighting hard for the cabbies. They tried to slow down the impact of the Uber invasion by making all drivers for -hire charge the same fixed rates for trips, but in a 8-4 vote, council brushed aside that plan.

Where did it all go wrong for the cabbies?

“I have real empathy with cab drivers, many of whom are newcomers to Canada and that’s the work they can get to support their families,” Coun. Scott McKeen said.

“Having said that, I’m frustrated with the industry and the companies and the brokers that they’ve been lazy and they have not innovated and the customer service hasn’t been great … All my kids take Uber. I told them, ‘There’s no insurance.’ They all took Uber. Why? Because it was great service, great price, and they felt safe and secure.”

The cab companies “are just running what citizens tell us is a sub-par service,” Coun. Michael Walters said. “It doesn’t mean that individual taxi drivers and plate owners don’t work hard and aren’t away from their families for hours on end, but the industry itself has not been motivated to innovate. Now this will make them do that.

“If we pass this bylaw, we will be the first city in Canada … to force the taxi industry to get with the times and improve their service.”

What’s left for the cabbies? Aslam said they’re in talks with lawyers to sue the city over the lost value of the plates. Other than that, part of their business — the hailing of cabs on the streets and cab stands — is still protected. But there’s no doubt that with such a huge hit to the value of so many small businesses, hundreds of families will be badly harmed.

dstaples@edmontonjournal.com