Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I continue to be concerned for the everyday working family. In most cases that family is trying to struggle to get by each and every single day, but the problems, as I see it, continue to point towards this government’s inaction when it comes to using the leverage before it. If anything, they’re not taking the responsibility they should. So this government continues to watch the everyday family struggle through their normal course of trying to get by rather than reaching for those levers to do something. That could be more described as inaction than action.
Here are some examples. According to Petro Canada, who some may say is a small, little business that might know something about the petroleum industry, and they say, in 2012 taxes in Canada represented an average of 39.9 cents per litre, which is approximately 31 percent of the price at the pump, when you do the math. So how does that work out here in the Yellowknife region? Well, the rack price, as a matter of a fact this morning, out of Hay River, showed that gasoline is sold at 91.2 cents per litre. If you use Petro Canada’s figures, again, accepting that they might know a thing or two about pricing on fuel, that brings us down to $1.19 per litre. So if you work with that range, that’s about 19 cents difference than the pumps on the ground here in Yellowknife.
In talking to Dan McTegue, again, a recognized expert in the industry of fuel pricing across Canada, he had said and predicted that the price in Yellowknife should fall in the range between $1.18 to $1.22 per litre. Again, about 20 cents difference from what you can buy it at the pump.
Now, some will say in Vancouver it’s about the same price as it is here in Yellowknife so why are you complaining. That’s an interesting point, but I think in some ways they’re missing the bigger picture. The bigger picture also needs to include the fact that the state also adds carbon tax, higher provincial tax and even, in some cases, transit tax. So are they really the same prices at the pump?
We need full disclosure and that’s why we need to have our consumer affairs division look closely at these things, but that’s not the only example of concern. What about pricing on cell phone bills and our contracts? We enjoy national partners working in our territory, but are we really enjoying national prices?
Lastly, I’ll provide an example of payday loans. Are we truly getting the scrutiny and fairness provided to those who are most at risk accessing those options of life? Are they being treated fairly? They need to be regulated.
I will have questions for somebody later today about these consumer affairs issues we need stepping up on. We’re missing an opportunity to protect the everyday working family. That needs to be done.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
