Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 22/99) - It's simple -- new snowmobiles aren't supposed to break down.

Gjoa Haven Mayor Michael Anquttitauraq Sr. said the last shipment of Petroleum Products gasoline, a year's supply delivered to holding tanks in September, is ruining the hamlet's machines.

"Every user in the community is feeling the effects of this," Anquttitauraq said.

"Petroleum Products have sampled it and told us it's not the gas, but they're not smelling the gas as it burns in the engines. It smells like it's diluted with diesel."

Department of Public Works and Services, petroleum products division director, Brian Austin, said they've done rigorous testing on the Gjoa Haven supply and found no problems.

Public Works delivers gas to 45 Northern communities that aren't serviced by private companies.

"An independent laboratory verified that each component of the gas is on or exceeding minimum specifications," Austin said.

"We're a government agency so we're very concerned that the quality of our fuels are at the level of standards required by the communities and conditions of the North."

Anquttitauraq dismisses Austin's claims. He said the number of engines damaged and fouled are far beyond normal range.

Gjoa Haven mechanic Ben Putuguq said he's dealing with everything from machines that won't start, to fouled spark plugs and blown pistons.

"I bought a Ski-Doo last year. The oil seals are gone and the rings are stuck," Putuguq said.

"Hamlet trucks are flooding all the time. We have to bring them in the garage before they'll run."

Reports of vehicle mechanical failures are rampant in the community of 1,000.

"The users of the gas strongly feel it's a gas problem so they're not going to give up until the supply is changed," Anquttitauraq said.

"If Petroleum Products chooses to say a professional has sampled it, we won't settle for that. The first Ski-Doo that landed here was in 1960, so our people who say it's the gas are professionals. They don't have to be scientists to know what's wrong."

He said the problem is putting Gjoa Haven hunters at risk. Right now, nobody feels particularly loyal to their snowmachines.

"It just seems like the company is not concerned with the customer. This problem is costing the hunters a great deal of money and putting their lives in danger," Anquttitauraq said.

"I can only think that they're protecting their dollar figure. It would cost them a lot to fly in and change the gas."

Austin said Petroleum Products is well aware of how important an uncontaminated fuel supply is to each of the Northern communities they supply.

"We know people are using our fuels to power vehicles that put them far away from their communities. We wouldn't take any unnecessary risks," Austin said.

"We're not denying there may be problems (in Gjoa Haven) but it's not due to the gas. We've proven our product fully meets the specification standards."