Taxi industry grows as new operators enter market

Brandon’s taxi industry is experiencing continued growth, with more drivers, vehicles and companies entering the market, as established operators report business remains strong amid increasing competition.

The city has issued 207 taxi driver permits and 180 taxi vehicle permits so far in 2026, city spokesperson Merrilea Metcalf said.

That compares with 208 driver permits and 220 vehicle permits issued in 2025, and 199 driver permits and 155 vehicle permits in 2024.

“The figures include both new applications and renewals,” Metcalf told the Sun. “Taxi driver permits are renewed annually in August, while taxi vehicle permits are renewed each February.”

While the city does not track the reasons behind changes in permit numbers, local operators said Brandon’s taxi sector has become increasingly competitive in recent months as several new companies have entered the market.

Mr. Ride Taxi Services manager Shawn Arksey said his company has not experienced any slowdown despite the growing number of competitors.

“We’ve been getting busier progressively,” Arksey told the Sun. “Our fleet continues to grow. The phone keeps ringing.”

He said the company started with about three vehicles and has expanded to a fleet of 40 vehicles operated by about 45 drivers.

“Just looking strictly at the call numbers and the number of rides going out every day, we seem to be getting busier rather than quieter,” he said. “Either demand is increasing, or someone else is taking the hit because we aren’t really feeling much strain.”

Arksey said the company is considering expanding its fleet by another five vehicles to meet demand, particularly during peak hours.

“Mornings when everyone’s going to work, lunchtime and around 3:45 p.m. when everyone’s heading home are our busiest periods,” he said. “Thursday, Friday and Saturday are especially busy.”

Despite describing the industry as healthy, Arksey said stronger enforcement of existing regulations would help maintain a level playing field.

“The industry is already fairly tightly regulated,” he said. “I’d like to see the city make sure new companies are meeting the same standards.”

He also suggested requiring taxi dispatch services to operate from within Brandon rather than overseas call centres, saying it could create dozens of local jobs.

The city’s taxi bylaw currently requires operators to meet licensing standards, including maintaining a minimum fleet size, operating around the clock and charging city-regulated fares, Arksey said.

Metcalf said the taxi bylaw will undergo its routine review later this year and at this stage, administration has not identified any proposed amendments.

“Should amendments be proposed in the future, they would be brought forward through the public legislative process and considered by city council,” she said.

Residents and industry members with suggestions regarding the bylaw are encouraged to contact the city clerk’s office or appear before council as a delegation, she said.

For new operators, entering the industry requires meeting several municipal requirements.

Applicants for a taxi driver permit must pay the annual $70 permit fee, have no outstanding debts to the city other than property taxes or utility accounts, hold at least a class 4 Manitoba driver’s licence, be legally entitled to work in Canada and be affiliated with a licensed taxi business, she said

Among Brandon’s newer entrants is Apple Taxi, which began operating last December.

Co-founder Kehinde Kingsley Odedun said launching the business took several months after the licensing process began in July, partly because of delays in completing documentation.

The company currently operates three vehicles but has faced challenges building its business.

“The business, to be honest, is not easy,” Odedun said. “The major challenge I’m having is finding drivers.”

He said personal circumstances, including travelling overseas following a family bereavement, also affected the company’s early operations.

Unlike larger operators, Odedun said Apple Taxi is still building and focusing on growth through technology and customer service.

He is preparing to launch a mobile app and website once additional drivers have been recruited.

“I need to have stable drivers before everything will fly,” he said.

Odedun acknowledged the increasing number of taxi companies in Brandon could make it more difficult for operators to grow, particularly in a city with a relatively small population.

“When you have a lot of taxis, and you know how many people are in Brandon, it’s going to affect the business,” he said. “It depends on your strategy.”

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