Gas prices in Squamish hit highs of up to seven cents per litre more than our Vancouver counterparts in recent months, sparking debate, frustration and many coffee shop conversations among angry local commuters.
As complaints throughout the community grew louder, District of Squamish councillor Paul Lalli reacted by introducing a council meeting motion last week that "the district write a letter to the local gas stations, with copies to their head offices, to lower rates to reflect correct market gas prices as they are not in line with the Lower Mainland rates, which are subject to a GVRD Translink surcharge."
Staff was also asked to report back to council with information on ways to "advance the district's position," and the amount of the Translink surcharge.
"It's an important issue for us because we have a lot of people commuting to work," said Lalli. "I personally noticed [the higher prices] and I had some phone calls."
When pressed as to whether or not Squamish council had any jurisdiction in the matter Lalli admitted: "it's obviously not a municipal issue, [the letter] is a political, or symbolic, gesture."
Local gas station managers greeted the news with some surprise and a sense of helplessness.
"We change the prices when we receive the call to change the prices from the head office," said Petro-Canada station manager Tony Jhanji.
His assertions were echoed by Chevron manager Aossein Kara.
Speaking from the Husky gas station, Julio Cha expressed his frustrations at the difficulty of keeping prices low in Squamish.
"I always try to maintain better prices. The only solution is to talk to Petro-Can. Petro-Can is very stubborn," said Cha, referring to what he says is Petro-Can's lack of willingness to respond to price fluctuations.
Calls to Petro-Canada head offices were not returned by press time.
While the council motion is aimed more "to start the dialogue," said Lalli, it may oversimplify the complex situation.
Gas prices take into account taxes and fees, which differ by region, transport distance, as well as large federal government subsidies to the massively profitable oil industry, among other factors.
Despite the district's powerlessness in the matter, frustrated local resident Norm Barr, said he feels the letter could be beneficial nonetheless.
"I think it's probably a good start [] that should produce some result," he said. "It [will] lend much more attention and credibility to the issue than perhaps myself sending a letter."
