Dear Editor:

Over the last several months we have heard every excuse in the book as to why our gas prices are higher than elsewhere in the province and in Canada.

At the time of writing this last week, gas in Osoyoos were $1.17 per litre and $1.14 in Kelowna . In Prince George, it was $.98 per litre, Rock Creek was $1.13, Vancouver $1.10, Saskatoon was $.90, Edmonton was $.80, Jasper was $1.04, Quebec City was $1.10 and Charlottetown, P.E.I. was $1.05.

So let’s look at the excuses.

The last time I checked, the Canadian dollar was worth the same in Osoyoos as in Edmonton, Prince George, and Charlottetown.

Osoyoos is obviously a smaller community than Kelowna and the other cities in the list, but it isn’t smaller than Rock Creek.

Prince George has the cheapest gas price in B.C., yet with its population of 88,000, is considerably smaller than Kelowna at 122,000.

We’ve all seen the gas trucks at the filling stations when the gas prices are lower in other communities, yet the price doesn’t come down after the tanks are filled.

The second we hear about the price of oil going up, our gas prices go up. There doesn’t seem to be a lag there.

It costs less to transport the gas to Rock Creek, Prince George, Saskatoon, and Charlottetown, than to the Osoyoos and the rest of the province?  I don’t think so.

Difference in provincial taxes is often used as another excuse, but I did some research.

When you combine all provincial taxes (federal taxes are the same across the board), Alberta’s are about 10 per cent, Saskatchewan’s 15 per cent, Ontario’s 23 per cent, Quebec’s – 29 per cent, PEI’s 22 per cent and B.C.’s is 21 per cent (with the carbon tax).

In  Vancouver, when you add in the transit tax as well, it increases to 32 per cent.

So that explains the difference and lower prices for gas for Albertans, but it most certainly doesn’t for the rest of the country.

The reality is gas prices remain cheaper in Vancouver, even with their transit tax, than it is for us here in the Okanagan.

What it all boils down to is the oil and gas companies and different levels of government charge more for gas here because they can and want to.

There is no other logical reason.

If we want to drive, we pay their prices, except when we are going somewhere else.

I used to always fill up in Osoyoos. Now, before I leave to go somewhere, I always check the gas prices in the direction I am heading. If it is only one cent cheaper, I fill up there.

I want to support our local businesses, but when they are openly ripping us off, just because they can, I can’t justify it.

I’m sure the oil and gas companies will find another excuse in their big bag of excuses and their “spin doctors” will find a way to spin this too.

If you want an eye opener, and to see current gas prices, check out www.bcgasprices.com.

From this site you can also search gas prices throughout the U.S. as well.

Penny Duperron

Osoyoos, B.C.