Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 21/01) - A proposed highway toll will result in unbearable extra costs for consumers, Fort Simpson residents told the standing committee last Thursday evening.

Floyd Roland, foreground and Sandy Lee, along with Paul Delorey and and Bill Braden (not pictured) are the MLAs who form the standing committee on the proposed highway toll. They were in Fort Simpson last Thursday and Friday to collect feedback on the issue. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Francine Green, one of 20 people to attend the hearing, said the cost of food is already "horrendous." She contended that this bill will drive grocery prices even higher.

"If you put a tax on transportation, then we're the ones who are going to pay for it. We can't afford it," said Green.

Some mothers may no longer be able to afford milk or meat for their children, she said.

Resident Bernice Swanson noted that gasoline, building supplies, clothes and even power (which is diesel-generated in most Deh Cho communities) will also come at greater expense because of a highway toll. Those on employment insurance and those with low incomes will be affected most, she said.

Paul Gammon pointed out that seniors on fixed incomes would also be hit hard. The territorial government's plan to raise the cost of living tax credit, which is based on income, to help offset higher costs from the highway toll would be of no use to many retired seniors, Gammon said.

MLA Bill Braden admitted that his support for the bill as it currently reads is "shaky." In part, that's because seniors would be at a disadvantage, he conceded.

Mayor Tom Wilson said the Power Corp.'s latest rate increase is already enough to deal with, let alone a highway toll.

"It's just another hit the government is giving us. Two cents here, three cents there, it all starts adding up ... we're just not going to be able to afford to live," Wilson said.

"We're being nickeled and dimed to death ... the feds aren't giving us enough money out of our royalties to pay for our infrastructure."

The bill, formally known as the Commercial Vehicle Trip Permit Fee, is scheduled to go before the legislature for a third and final reading in late October. MLA Floyd Roland thanked everyone for attending and reminded them that speaking out in a public forum does have an impact, as witnessed when the proposed hotel tax was defeated.

Taking a toll

- The toll will apply to all commercial freight vehicles weighing 12,000 kilograms or more.

- The extra cost of freight would amount to 3.7 cents/kg in Wrigley, 2.6 cents/kg in Fort Simpson and 1.2 cents/kg in Fort Providence.

- The GNWT expects the highway toll will raise close to $100 million over four years. Those funds would supplement the $48 million already designated towards highway improvements.

- Highway 1, the Mackenzie Highway, would be allotted $9.5 million over four years. Highway 7, the Liard Trail, would have $11.8 million earmarked for upgrades.