 | E-mail this story |  | Write letter to editor |  | Order a classified ad |  Print this page |
| | E-mail this story | | Write letter to editor | | Order a classified ad | Print this page |
|
Soaring fuel prices hit home Northern News Services
At the Arctic Esso in Inuvik, drivers were paying $1.32 per litre last week. "All I hear are people joking that it's time to buy a bike," says fuel attendant Scott Kasook. At Stan's Quick Stop in Fort Resolution, regular gas was $1.15 per litre last week. The only people owner Stan Hunter hears complaining are out-of-towners. "People say, 'Oh, Jesus, $1.15,' but that's because they're from other places where gas is cheaper," Hunter says. "But by the time they get home again, gas has gone up there, too." Last week, for the first time ever, the price of regular gas averaged more than $1 a litre across Canada. Most of the rise can be blamed on the high price of crude oil, fuelled by increasing demand worldwide and political concerns in the Middle East. The price of a barrel of oil hovered around $66 U.S. last week. In Tulita last week, the price of regular gasoline was up to $1.15/litre. "We just got a 23-litre can filled up the other day and it cost us $26.45," elder Laura Lennie says. Sahtu communities get hit twice by increased fuel prices. Without road access, much of the food brought into the community during the summer arrives by boat or plane, Lennie says. "I had to go get a can of pie filling from the store because I ran out," the elder noted. "If I got it when the winter road was going, it would have cost $3.98, but instead I had to pay $6.98." In Hay River, the price of regular gas was $1.054 last week at Bigway Foods, up from 98.4 cents a couple of months ago. Manager Steve Anderson says people seem to accept the higher prices without much complaint. "What can you do about it?" Anderson notes retailers are not making any more money because the higher costs are at the beginning of the supply chain and are just passed along. "We're not making any more margin on it at all." Mansell Grey, a 30-year resident of Hay River, says he has watched as gas prices have increased over the years. "I'm glad I'm 80 years old and I won't have to put up with it much longer," Grey said with a laugh. Fuel cost breakdown For a litre of gas priced at $1.092 on the NWT highway system, the cost breaks down as follows: 50.5 cents - crude oil; 30.9 cents - refining, marketing and retail margins; 10.7 cents - territorial fuel tax; 10 cents - federal excise tax; 7.1 cents - GST. Prices of gasoline per litre, including GST, in NWT communities as of Aug. 18.
|
