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State of shock - Clarence Soule

Gas prices have increased since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the United States leaving Canadians in a state of shock. There is no use taking anger out on poor gas attendants because they receive their orders from the oil companies.

Gas prices have increased since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the United States leaving Canadians in a state of shock.

There is no use taking anger out on poor gas attendants because they receive their orders from the oil companies.

Just what is going on here? When one looks at the taxes on this energy resource, you will find they have not increased. The marketing and refining costs have not changed drastically, to my knowledge.

Keep in mind gasoline being held in the underground tanks at each service station was purchased long before this hurricane hit, and at lower prices.

The time has come for the federal government to introduce rules and regulations to counteract these constant fluctuations in gas prices.

I would suggest:

-The price of gas should be based on production and marketing costs plus a fair profit.

-All gas produced in Canada should be for Canadian use and only surplus should be sold at world market prices to other countries.

These rules and regulations when implemented would be fair to the consumer and also to oil companies.

We have heard all kinds of rhetoric about this gas pricing issue, but no concrete action has taken place. Pierre Trudeau found a way to deal with the gas situation.

There is no reason why our present prime minister and his government cannot do the same. It is time for the government to do something about price gouging.

Clarence Soule
Sudbury