It is possible Leamington will be without cab service after a hearing Monday at town hall.
All four cab companies in the town have been notified they are in violation of the terms of their business license under Leamington's new bylaw governing taxi cabs. It was passed at the end of last year, and cab companies had six months to comply with the new rules.
The hearing will decide whether to grant the companies an extension or revoke their business licenses at least temporarily. The violations run from failure to pave parking lots, to parking in municipal parking spots.
At Leamington Taxi, owner Mark Aloqail says he only received his notice two days ago and had no idea he needed to pave the gravel part of his parking lot.
"If they told me to [pave] the gravel when I submitted my application, I would have done it. I would have spent $3,000 to save my company," he says.
Aloqail's company employs 20 full and part-time drivers, but 77 drivers across town could be affected. However, he says shutting down the cab companies will hurt more than just workers, or even residents who rely on the service. He says it could hurt Leamington's economy.
"Who is going to run the people from the hotel to the restaurants when they come from Toronto or anywhere else? How about the marina and people coming from the States?" he asks.
Ruth Orton, the director of legal and legislative services with the Municipality of Leamington, says there has been plenty of communication between the town and cab companies so the new rules should come as no surprise.
"We had an information session prior to the passing of the bylaw -- there was a meeting of council," says Orton. "When they each were issued their licenses, the clerk met with the owners. We sent correspondence to them three months after the issuing of the licenses."
In addition to Leamington Taxi, three other cab companies operate in the town: Yellow Taxi, Nader's Taxi and Sun Parlour Cabs.