Â鶹Éç¹ú²ú

This is seemingly not a new issue, but right now, seems to be at an extreme where gas prices in Â鶹Éç¹ú²úare significantly higher than our neighbours in Vancouver, Whistler or Pemberton — often over 20 cents per litre more in many cases.

While nobody wants to pay more for gas, consumers are generally happy to pay a fair price for their gas. But what is fair? I believe that consumers are intelligent and rational, and understand that the price at the pump is made from a few factors: a wholesale price which gas stations are paying the refineries, transport costs to get the gas to their station, taxes according to the location, and some profit for the stations so that they are rewarded for their effort and remain in business.

What is incredibly frustrating for local consumers is that, given the factors that impact cost mentioned above, Â鶹Éç¹ú²úprices are exorbitantly high compared to nearby communities:

Wholesale prices for Â鶹Éç¹ú²ústations are the same as for our neighbouring communities.

Transport costs are not uniquely high for Squamish, and should in fact be lower than our Whistler and Pemberton neighbours.

Taxes are lower than Vancouver (and the same as Whistler and Pemberton)

Yet we continue to see consistently and significantly higher prices than all of these communities.

This leads one to question — if the Â鶹Éç¹ú²ústations have jointly set their profits extremely high?

So what can be done?

Elected officials should be protecting their constituents from being taken advantage of on over-priced essential services.

Government agencies should proactively act on predatory companies that are preying on consumers.

Gas stations should respect their customers and offer a fair price in line with neighbouring communities and costs.

Consumers should speak out and rally against unfair pricing and shop at stations offering lower prices — which unfortunately at this time is outside of Squamish.

A petition was set up this week to Fight Unfair Gas Prices in Â鶹Éç¹ú²ú(change.org/UnfairSquamishGasPrices), and within 24 hours had over 500 signatures. A clear indication of just how frustrated the people of Â鶹Éç¹ú²úare of being taken advantage of, and we need to see action from elected officials and organizations to protect us.

Geoffrey Waterson

Squamish