A major shakeup in the local taxi industry will be finalized by next week.

City Wide Taxi, originally Gulliver’s Cabs, is poised to acquire Newfound Cabs, almost doubling its fleet.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The move comes as the industry struggles to get back on its feet amid the pandemic.

City Wide owner Peter Gulliver says red tape, as well as the high cost of getting drivers back on the road—including insurance and other fees—aren’t helping. And that, he says, is without factoring in the price at the pump.

He’s calling on the provincial government to address the crippling price of gas which he notes is crucial for an industry like the taxi business.

Gulliver acknowledges long delays in trying to hail a cab these days, adding that only half of the usual fleet is operating overall.

Meanwhile, he says Newfound Cabs will continue under that brand for the foreseeable future.