Riders rent reduction a 'contractual matter', no legal threat: Reynolds
12h ago
The $1.33M rent reduction comes from what the club owed during seasons impacted by the pandemic.
The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce says there’s growing concern about a court injunction against a local cab company that could have severe economic consequences.
According to a statement from the airport authority, a provincial court judge granted an injunction on Aug. 31 barring Riide from picking up or dropping off passengers at Saskatoon’s John G. Diefenbaker International Airport.
It said Riide refused to renew its airport licence for three years, and was not paying the pickup and dropoff fees the airport collects on each fare.
The airport authority said it needs to protect the integrity of its commercial transportation program and ensure fairness for all cab operators.
Scott Suppes, Riide president and CEO, said his company tried to submit payment to the airport authority, but it was returned. He also said his company has chosen not to participate in an “open licence” program because it did not see the value in the program.
The airport authority has filed a lawsuit against Riide in Court of King’s Bench.
In what it called an “alert,” the chamber said the injunction will affect Riide’s 297 drivers and their families, who rely on payments from customers to support their livelihoods. Many of the company’s drivers are also visible minorities who need to gain job experience.
The chamber wrote the injunction would affect hundreds of customers, clients, vendors and visitors arriving in Saskatoon, and would be undermining “our city’s reputation as open for business, and frustrating efforts to conduct trade, business development or other economic activities.”
According to the chamber, Riide holds 17 out of the 26 wheelchair plates available for cabs in Saskatoon.
The statement from the chamber indicated that the organization will be urging the airport to “withdraw its injunction and re-commit to resolving contractual issues with Riide through a mediated settlement.”
650 CKOM’s request for an interview with chamber CEO Jason Aebig was declined.