_ Terrace Bay-Schreiber News, Wednesday, July 23, 1986, page 13 Gasoline price study called 'idiotic' by Stokes (A submission by Jack Stokes of Schreiber was made to the North/South Gasoline Price Forum in Marathon on July 8, and following is a copy of that submission, as presented at the Forum.) ; On Oct 1, 1986, the Minister of Energy, Vince Kerrio, said that his Min- istry speaks for Ontario on energy policy matters. He also stated that he has a mandate to ensure that in- dustry and other consumers can obtain energy supplies at fair prices as well as the broad aspects of supply and costs of all of Ontario's energy sources. Mr. Kerrio believes that market forces will result in lower energy costs to On- tario consumers and sales Opportunities to producers and market sensitive pric- ing. The North-South Gasol- ine Pricing Study released in February by the Minister of Energy also.states that prices are determined by market factors such as mar- ket size, retailing costs, and cost of transporation. They have come to the bald and idiotic conclusion that the average gasoline price differential between northern and southern On- tario was 4.2 cents per litre during the study period. The report states that the differential results primar- ily because smaller markets experience less competit- ion. As though we were a bunch of dummies, the report tells us and the Minister tells us that the price differences between urban and remote markets in the North are greater than prices between urban areas in the north and south. The study went on to say that the extra transportation costs to move gasoline pro- ducts to the North were greater than the price dif- ferential between northern and southern Ontario. We as Northerners know that we represent only 10 per cent of Ontario's pop- ulation, even though we occupy and service over 83 per cent of the province's land mass. We create new wealth and broaden the tax base by developing our forestry, mineral, and tourist resources, for fed- eral and provincial treas- uries. As the lynch pin of the nation, we maintain our highways and railroads to provide a coast to coast transportation network for the efficient and cost effec- tive movement of goods and people between major urban centres within our federation. We husband and manage the primary re- source legacy on behalf of all residents in this great province. Northern Ontario serves as the playground for hun- dreds of thousands of Can- adian and American tour- ists that seek relief, div- ersion, and relaxation from - the urban rat race. Northerners pay more sales tax on consumer items because of the higher costs resulting from small- er markets, less competit- ion and greater transport- ation costs. We contribute much more than our fair share of taxes on any item where the tax is based on an ad valorem or retail price of goods and services which is inevitably higher in the north than the south. It is a well known fact that residents in com- munities such as Manit- ouwadge, Marathon, Ger- aldton, Armstrong, and Pickle Lake must travel and overnight in Thunder Bay, Toronto, or Winnipeg in order to avail them- selves of essential med- ical, orthodontic, and other essential services. It is also a fact that nor- therners pay more in con- struction and heating costs because of longer winters More winners Five more Terrace Bay youngsters were awarded pla- ques on July 18 after being spotted operating their bicycles in a safe manner. From left to right are Devin Pearen, 6; Lindsay Turcotte, 8; Shannon Moquin, 10; Notice Letters to the editor of the Terrace Bay-Schreiber News are welcomed and encouraged. Such letters shouldbe sent to the att- ention of the editor at P.O. Box 579, Terrace Bay, On- tario, POT 2WO. All letters must include the author's name, address, and telephone number so that the submission can be verified. The editor reserves the right to edit any letter re- ceived. Though they can be about virtually any topic-- local, national, or global-- please keep your missives as brief as possible. The Editor Anne Marie Boutette, 9; and Scott Merkley, 12. The safety program is presented by the Terrace Bay Police Force and is sponsored in part by the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and SunLife Insurance. and lower temperatures as compared to the south, re- sulting in much _ larger home heating bills. Beer, wine, and liquor prices under the Ontario Liquor Control Board have been equalized everywhere in Ontario. OHIP prem- iums, Ontario Tax Credits at the provincial level, as well as Canada Pension and OAS beneits at the fed- eral level are equal. Given the tax breaks, ex- ploration incentives, write- offs, and research incent- ives that have been extend- ed to oil and gas producers, surely there is a will and a way to reduce the dramatic cost differential in petrol- eum products between the north and the south. Lest you too are per- suaded to agree with the findings of the Royal Com- mission on Petroleum pric- ing which studied this sub- jects in 1975, or the North- South Gasoline Pricing Study which released its findings in February, let me remind you of the following facts. As recently as July 3, regular gas was selling for 42.5 cents per litre in Thunder Bay, 44.7 cents per litre in Nipigon, and as high as 53 cents per litre at Shell and Texaco on High- way 17 in Schreiber for a difference of 10.5 cents per litre more than in Thunder Bay and 8.3 cents higher than Nipigon only 60 miles away. In February of this year, the Official Opposition at the federal level was de- Piano pupils all pass A number of students in Mario Commisso's piano class in Schreiber have graduated, some with First Class Honours, the teacher explained recently. All of his piano pupils are in the 10 to 13 year old age group, and all are from Schreiber, he added. Crissy Alfarano, 11, fin- ished her Grade One with First Class Honours, as did her 10-year-old sister Cin- dy. Western Conservatory is used in his classes, Com- misso pointed out. Jackie Glad, 11, also had First Class Honours after graduating from Grade 2, while Stacy Shack had First Class Grade One Honours. Honours went to two other Grade 2 graduates, Patti Quinton and Deanna Cosgrove, Commisso said. Pouliot The New Democratic Party of Ontario announc- ed recently that Gilles Pouliot, MPP for the Lake Nipigon Riding, has been appointed Transportation and Communications Critic. "'Mr. Pouliot brings to his new role a thorough understanding of the nature and problems of transpor- tation and communication across Ontario. He will also be responsible for the need to improve transpor- tation in Northern On- tario," Party Leader Bob Rae said. Since the character of Northern Ontario demands new and clear directions, Pouliot will pay special at- tention to the acute need to improve the road system in Northern Ontario, the release added. manding an immediate six cent per litre reduction in price because of the dram- atic drop in the world price of crude. Imperial Oil made a net profit of $634 million in 1985, an increase of 19 per cent over 1984. On March 21, 1986 the President of BP stated "There is no justification for an Ontario service station (gasoline) price above 40 cents a litre. If they operated at a low profit margin as they have for years, they would only charge 35 cents a litre."' The recent study on North-South pricing found that it costs 1.5 cents a litre to ship gasoline from Toronto to northern urban centres, a distance of several hundred miles. Three years ago when the tank wagon price in Thunder Bay was 46 cents a litre I asked the general managers of marketing for Esso, Shell, Gulf and Tex- aco how much dealers were being charged in places like Nipigon and Schreiber. The price they quoted was 46.3, a dif- ference of .3 cents per litre. (The conclusion of the submission will be publish- ed in next week's issue of the News.) Major Appliance Repairs Servicing done in your 6wn home to ranges, washers, dryers, dishwashers, fridges, electric hot water tanks and elec- tric heating units. Parts on hand for most makes and models. Bill Campbell Electric 824-2743 or 824-2574 Servicing Jackfish, Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Rossport and Pays Plat. more listings WE LIKE WORK TO KEEP me busy | need | want the WORK and if you want the RESULTS CALL THE ACTIONLINE TODAY eres é ee | ction reaity INDEPENDENT MEMBER OF THE CANADA TRUST FRANCHISE Lynn Hodder 825-9077 i Schreiber. 997-0313. Canada Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission following application: NOTICE CRTC - Public Notice 1986-162. The Commission has received the 2. SCHREIBER, Ont. (861084200) by SISSONS' CABLE TV INC., P.O. Box 84, Schreiber, POT 2SO, to amend the licence for the broadcasting receiving undertaking serving Schreiber, by increasing the authoriz- ed maximum installation fee from $25.00 to $50.00. The present maximum installation fee was authorized on 12 January 1981 (Deci- sion CRTC 81-20). Examination of application: 224 Park St., The complete text of this notice and the application may be viewed at'CRTC, Central Building, Les Terrasses de la Chaudiere, 1 Pro- menade du Portage, Room 561, Hull, Quebec. Interventions must be filed with the Secretary General, CRTC, Ot- tawa, Ont. K1A ON2, with proof that a copy has been served on the applicant on or before 15 August 1986. For more information you may also call the CRTC Public Hearings Branch at (819) 997-1328 or 997-1027, CRTC Information Services in Hull at (819) Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes Application - full-time Terrace Bay/Schreiber Advertising Salesperson - experience not essential Please call collect: Norm Tollinsky 1-705-673-5705