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Of course, it’s utter rubbish for any cabbie to suggest that Iveson or any councillor is corrupt. In fact, council is sweating to make the right choices here. But many of these cab drivers could well lose a major investment and also face unfair competition if council doesn’t eventually get it right with a new bylaw.

Many folks welcome competition in this industry and have called out cabbies for lack of service and for charging too much. But these men are not at the top, but closer to the bottom, of the economic ladder. They’re almost all immigrants, new Canadians looking to work hard. They have also made major investments to buy operator plates, which went for as much as $200,000 at the market peak.

Umesh Patel, 36, started to drive a cab 2-1/2 years ago and bought his plate for $125,000 six weeks ago. He has a wife and two kids, ages five and two. He made the investment because he’s dedicated to this business and he wanted to own, not rent. He also thought that Uber wasn’t going to be accepted in Edmonton, just as it’s been rejected in many cities.

“This is my big investment,” Patel said. “It’s not my cash money. It’s my line of credit. I got a loan. I’ve got to pay it.”

Plates are one issue, but it will also be a blow if the market is suddenly flooded with new drivers who don’t have to charge a fixed minimum price, as cab drivers must.

City branch manager Scott Mackie is both preparing the new bylaw and also digging in to best practices from other cities dealing with Uber, so council can figure out how to make positive reforms with the least amount of disruption. Iveson is talking about maybe waiting to get more information before any new bylaw is fully enacted.

That’s a good idea. That’s the prudent course.

And the cabbies have now made enough of an impression that council will seriously consider this more cautious approach.

dstaples@edmontonjournal.com