Back in February, I wrote a column suggesting local governments unite in trying to bring parity at the pump.
Now, it looks like the Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce asking city council for help to bring a fair price at the pump. This would be in relation to neighbouring communities.
When I wrote the first column, gas was being sold in Salmon Arm at 117.9 per litre. In Enderby, it was 111.9, and in Kamloops, people could fuel up for 101.9.
Obviously, the price has gone up everywhere in the past six months, though the inequity still lingers.
And while I am doubtful we’re ever going to see it go back below $1.20 per litre, I am not convinced the chamber and council are powerless to improve the situation.
In January 2012, something unusual happened in Sicamous. District council agreed to challenge petroleum companies on why gas prices in that community were typically higher – by about five cents – than in Salmon Arm. One week later, Sicamous gas prices were on par with Salmon Arm’s, and it’s been that way ever since.
It was current Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo who got the ball rolling on this when he was campaigning for a seat Sicamous council. Kyllo, with support from the local chamber, stressed how higher gas prices were hurting the local economy.
“It’s definitely causing a lot of concern for local businesses, it sends the wrong messages to tourists and our vacation traffic that are coming through the area…,” Kyllo states in a video uploaded to YouTube.
Sicamous’ success has not been lost on Salmon Arm chamber president Jim Kimmerly, which is now focused on a more regional parity. His reasons, reflecting the results of a chamber survey, are by-and-large the same as Sicamous’: shopping dollars are already flowing out of town to neighbouring communities, and their having the additional draw of lower gas prices is not helping matters any.
It got pretty ridiculous back in July, when local gas prices were holding steady at 139.9, while it was selling for 131.9 in Vernon. It could even be purchased for less in Vancouver.
As of Friday, Aug. 9, gas was at 138.9 in Sicamous and Salmon Arm – seven cents above the 131.9 national average, thanks in part to B.C.’s high taxation on gas. At the same time, drivers could fuel up for 135.9 per litre in Vernon, 134.9 in Kelowna, 131.9 in Grindrod and 123.9 in Kamloops.
Kimmerly recognizes there is competition in Kamloops and Enderby that affects local pricing, but he still feels Salmon Arm should at least be on par with Vernon and Kelowna. And where Salmon Arm goes, Sicamous would hopefully follow.
Kimmerly recognizes this will take some political will, but he feels if Sicamous can do it, so can Salmon Arm.
I maintain a little collusion between the two communities may improve the odds of bringing about greater parity at the pump for the Shuswap.
