North Bay councillor Mike Anthony is disappointed the provincial Liberals chose not to regulate gas prices. Anthony spear-headed a city council drive urging the Liberals to adopt a motion from the NDP calling for regulated gas prices. He says the concept has worked in five other provinces which has reduced sticker shock for the consumer. “You know for the next week or two that it’s going to be $1.06 to $1.08 a litre,” Anthony said. “This way you’re not getting the crazy changes from city to city, town to town or region to region.”
The week he introduced his motion, which got unanimous support from council, gas in North Bay was selling for about $1.15 a litre. Anthony says that same litre sold for $1.05 in another community and $1.29 in another municipality. He says at a time when the province can have the same price for beer and wine across the province, he says it’s odd it can’t do the same for fuel prices. Anthony says by voting against the NDP resolution the Ontario Liberals give the impression that they don’t understand the North. He says northerners use more gas every day in the winter just to warm up their cars. He adds passenger vehicle usage went up when the Liberals cancelled the Northlander and bus services were reduced. To the councillor it creates the perception that the provincial government doesn’t understand how important transportation is to northerners. Anthony has been a champion of regulated gas prices for years and says he’s not giving up the fight. He says the irregularities are one thing people talk about constantly.
