VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – According to a new survey, Vancouver taxi services are the best in Canada.

But according to one city councillor, that distinction could be on the line, with new suburban taxis providing service in the city.

The Passenger Transportation Board has just approved some 30 new cab licences for out-of-town companies to operate on weekends in Vancouver.

While the decision still that has yet to be endorsed by the city, Councillor Geoff Meggs says cab companies have already rushed in.

He likens the situation to the Wild West.

“Cabs are coming to pick people up. Passengers may think that’s great, but the whole economic structure of the industry is destabilized by the fact that way more cabs than have been approved by the board are picking up passengers and there’s no enforcement,” he explains.

Meggs’ complaints come as Hotels.com releases a new survey, ranking Vancouver as the best in the country when it comes to taxi service. He fears what will happen to the high ranking with suburban cabs trolling the streets.

“The Vancouver system is ranked the best in Canada in an international survey. The high standards are based on much stricter regulations than you see in the suburbs: more training, more oversight of cab safety and that kind of thing.”

Vancouver cab companies have also been given permission to put more cars on the streets. Meggs that measure alone should be more than enough to deal with the current shortage of taxis on weekends.