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An executive with Saskatoon’s largest taxi company blasted city hall’s plan to add new taxi licences.

Carlo Triolo, the general manager of United Group, said Monday a proposal to eliminate seasonal plates and replace them with year-round “enterprise” licences “makes no sense.”

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“We will not be participating in the enterprise scheme,” Triolo told city council’s transportation committee.

The committee unanimously endorsed the proposal, which dates back to efforts to allow cab companies to provide more flexible service with the introduction of ride-sharing services. Council must still endorse the changes.

“I keep saying journey, but it has been a journey,” Coun. Bev Dubois said.

Under the current system that expires at the end of June, there are 24 seasonal plates that are allowed to operate from September to June and typically are shared by more than one driver.

Under the city hall plan, those plates would be replaced by 35 year-round licences that would only be valid for a single driver. The enterprise licences would be awarded by lottery and be valid for four years. Drivers would need four years of experience driving a taxi to be considered.