Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 18/01) - Despite a fall in Yellowknife's prices, city drivers are still paying some of the highest gasoline prices in memory.

Billy Smith, manager of Yellowknife's Petro-Canada service station, pumps 89.9 cent gas. - Thorunn Howatt/NNSL photo

Yellowknife residents seem to be used to paying more for everything, including gasoline, said Billy Smith the manager of a Yellowknife PetroCan station. Tourists and new residents seem to be struck by the high cost.

Even after falling about four cents in recent days, city prices are still averaging about 90 cents, about 25 cents more than Edmonton and 10 cents more than Newfoundland.

Lower pump prices have been a trend in all regions of the country with the Canadian average pump price declining for eight consecutive weeks.

On July 10 the average price in Canada was 65.9 cents per litre, the lowest since April.

"People may grumble about gas prices but they are still buying gas-guzzlers," said Kevin Robertson, the owner and manager of Yellowknife Chrysler Ltd.

Consumers don't seem to be concerned about gas mileage when purchasing a vehicle. Robertson said one of the reasons is because Northerners don't drive the distances as their southern counterparts.

"In the south I might put on 25,000 kilometres annually but here I might only drive about 5,000," said Robertson.