Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. News media in Canada and the world are talking about the decline in gasoline prices. The reason is because of the international glut of oil, which is causing the decline of global oil prices. The southern media reports that in New Brunswick a gas pump buyer said it’s just like winning the lottery, he was so happy gassing up.
The average price of gas across Canada has declined about 23 cents since the end of June. The decline is forecasted to continue well into Christmas, giving people an early Christmas present, so to speak. But closer to home in our small and remote communities, sadly there will be no lottery winning or Christmas present because government-delivered fuel prices are fixed.
Gasoline and heating oil prices are the single biggest driver of the cost of living there. The residents of my communities and all of the other smaller and remote communities across the NWT will suffer with the exceptional high cost of fuel while the world benefits. This is simply not right.
I will be calling upon this government to do something to help our people in small communities who depend on gasoline to make a living from the land and heating fuel for their homes. They should not be penalized by our outdated policies and procedures for delivery of fuel to their communities. We have seen this government come up with $20 million to help with the power costs. This government can once again be a champion by reducing the cost of fuel in our small communities to reflect the realities of lower oil prices in Canada and throughout this world. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.
