The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Rising prices at the pump are beginning to take a toll on local business owners for whom gas is a major expense. The local cost of regular gas averaged more than 97 cents a litre yesterday, part of a nationwide trend of record-breaking prices. Diesel prices have also shot up at rates surprising to many drivers. "It's taken away my profitability," said Reg Hiebert, manager of Northern Bus Lines. Hiebert said the cost of filling his buses with diesel gas has gone up at least 20 cents a litre over the past year, and he can't recall ever seeing such a fast and drastic increase. About 80 per cent of Hiebert's business is under fixed contracts, meaning he is not able to pass any of the substantial fluctuation onto his clients. "If you're on a fixed rate, you're hurting," he said. Dave Gunn of Gunn Sound and Light goes through more gas than many business owners as he sets up sound, lighting, and outdoor tents for various community functions. Higher gas prices have also meant higher freight costs on merchandise he orders from out of town. "It's had an effect, for sure," said Gunn. As owner of Creighton's Pizza, which delivers fast food around the area, Teli Keramydas has seen an impact, though he acknowledged that it has been small thus far. "We're not going to increase our prices or anything, but of course we would like to see (prices) coming down," he said. Keramydas is concerned about the effect continued rising prices would have on the cost of goods in general, particularly in more remote areas like the Flin Flon area. "If it keeps going like that, we will see the prices go up everywhere," he said. Home deliveries are a part of business at Christie's Flowers and Wedding Wishes, where owner Linda Lowe said the surging rates have hurt her bottom line, though it hasn't been "horrible." However, she said if prices aren't down by wintertime, when more gas is consumed as drivers warm up their vehicles, the effect will be more substantial. See 'Complaints' P.# Con't from P.# Ty Busby, owner of Ty's Taxi, said he's heard people complain about the prices but any impact on his business has not been noticeable. "I haven't really seen an effect yet, but if it does keep going up, fares will have to go up," he said. "If it went up higher, anybody would hurt who uses the amount of gas I use." A survey yesterday of the nine regular gas providers in Flin Flon, Creighton, and Denare Beach found that the average cost of filling up stood at 97.4 cents per litre. Prices ranged from 95.9 cents to the most common price of 97.9 cents. Soaring gas prices across Canada are blamed on several factors, including high crude oil prices, stronger global demand, and what some call excessive taxes. Whatever the reason, drivers are frustrated because the situation is out of their hands. "You can't do a darn thing about it," said Hiebert of Northern Bus Lines. Gunn of Gunn Sound and Light knows that's the case as well but said many motorists may be making too big a deal out of the rate hikes. "Of course I don't like to spend any more than I need to, but at the same time, it's still a deal," he said. "Gas has to be taken out of the ground and refined. It's still cheaper than pop, which is carbonated, flavoured water." Hiebert said he doesn't own a crystal ball but is confident that prices will come down sooner or later. "As far as past history goes, there's always an up and a down, whether it's the stock market or the fuel prices," he said. "The question is, how long will they stay up?" Prime Minister Paul Martin doesn't know the answer to that question, but he has vowed to try to address the gas price problem. Earlier this week, the prime minister said he will raise the issue at next month's G-8 conference, but he couldn't promise his efforts would be reflected at the pumps any time soon. Prime Minister Martin plans to lobby to pressure the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to boost its production so prices can drop.
