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Members of an Ottawa council committee were being asked Thursday only to approve the launch of a review of the city’s taxi bylaw — a preliminary step in a process that could last months — but already some taxi drivers were lining up to air grievances about illegal rivals.

Amrik Singh, the president of Unifor Local 1688 — which represents all licensed taxi drivers in Ottawa, told the community and protective services committee that their cars have to be newer and pass annual inspections, and drivers must pass a test and obtain criminal reference checks on a regular basis.

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“The so-called competition, they have to do nothing,” he said. “Where is the safety?”

Another driver, Vestas Absa Mwakyeldzi, told the committee drivers are worried about their livelihoods and that of their families.

“We are scared,” he said.

Singh said he couldn’t tell the committee what effect illegal taxis were having on licensed drivers’ earnings, but he hoped to provide an estimate in the future. “We don’t have any numbers, but we know our people are suffering badly,” he said.