Town council in Inuvik, N.W.T., voted unanimously Wednesday to scrap a bylaw that would have forced cab drivers over the age of 70 to give up their permits.

Council changed its mind on the bylaw, which was set to take effect next month, after older residents in the town of 3,500 complained that an age restriction on cab drivers is discriminatory.

Many were particularly upset that two well-known drivers — Zivojin Jonanovic and Frank Fulop, both over 70 — would have been forced to retire.

Earlier this week, Mayor Derek Lindsay told CBC News he had changed his mind about the age restriction, adding he hoped councillors would support his amendment to throw it out.

"I had a long hard day thinking about it," Lindsay said Monday. "The 70-year-old thing was probably creating too much hardship on the community."

Lindsay said that as long as the older drivers have clean driving records and good health, there's no reason for him to take their taxi permits.

Cab driver Sidney Bucina, 68, said he is glad Lindsay reversed course on the bylaw, but added that he has lost some faith in Inuvik town council.

"[There] was no reason to come to this in the first place," Bucina said. "I am concerned about them making other decisions which could affect the community."