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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Despite grumblings over high gas prices throughout all major centres in the country, Yellowknife motorists won't see an increase at the pumps for a while.

Longtime Yellowknife resident Lorne Sutherland fills up at the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op gas bar last May. Yellowknife residents aren't expected to pay more at the pump this spring. - NNSL file photo

The spring breakup forced businesses to stockpile goods, and anticipate a four-week cut-off before the Merv Hardie ferry service resumes.

Roy Ferrier, owner of Gastown, located on Old Airport Road, has stockpiled five weeks of fuel in preparation.

"The breakup normally lasts about four weeks and we usually put an extra week on that," he told Yellowknifer last week. "In the past it's always enabled us to provide fuel without being affected."

That anticipation has spared residents higher gas prices this spring.

"Right now we're getting our fuel at prices that remain consistent, so we haven't had too see an increase. It shouldn't (increase) if everybody got their fuel in and if everything is copacetic," Ferrier said. "I mean, you buy your fuel in advance to store it, so you're paying a certain price for it, so it should remain the same."

The story is the same at the Monkey Tree Gas Bar, where owner Jimmy Kong confirmed the business had successfully stockpiled five weeks of fuel.

He said he isn't anticipating an increase in the coming weeks.

Shell Canada would not comment when asked if Yellowknife residents would see an increase at the pumps following the closure of the Mackenzie River ice crossing.

However, Stephen Doolan, spokesperson for Shell Canada, explained in an e-mail to Yellowknifer that there are many factors that influence the price at the pump.

"In general, we can advise that fuel prices are determined by a variety of factors, including price of crude oil, cost of refining crude oil, effect of supply and demand in North America, and local retail forces that affect the day-to-day price, as retailers compete for price," Doolan stated. "The supply and demand of fuel prices is a small part of how price is determined. The larger piece is the wholesale rack price, crude oil price, and market price where aspects such as supply-demand, local tax conditions and competition come in."

On the company's website under the category "why does the price vary from region to region," the top listed reason is "transportation costs."

With the anticipated opening of the Deh Cho Bridge later this year, businesses are hopeful this will be the last year for stockpiling.

The $192-million engineering feat will replace the ice crossing and the Merv Hardie Ferry and provide a year-round option for the transportation of goods.

Because of the high retail margins, Yellowknife is one of the few markets that aren't affected by the small fluctuation in the wholesale price.

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