A common Squamish complaint is turning into grassroots action.
Squamish's Sacha Fabry has launched an online petition over the price at the local pump.
The Change.org petition, “Gas companies: stop gouging Squamish residents!” aims to “send a message to the Competition Bureau and to our elected officials at all levels of government; we need action to ensure that Squamish district residents are treated fairly by gas companies,” according to the site.
The petition is directed at interim Commissioner of Competition Matthew Boswell, MP Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Sea to Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy.
"Citizens are paying just as much as people in Metro Vancouver, but without the benefit of expanding public transit infrastructure,” reads the petition.
Lower Mainland drivers pay an additional .17 cents per litre at the pump because Metro Vancouver is subject to an additional transit tax.
Squamish is not subject to that tax.
On Friday, most gas stations in Squamish were selling at 147.9 cents a litre The Squamish Nation run Squamish Valley Gas Bar was at 146.9.
In Pemberton, drivers paid 139.9 while those driving through Abbotsford were paying $133.9 to 136.9, depending on the station.
Mayor Patricia Heintzman has been vocal about the difference in Squamish gas prices and has also called on locals to contact the Competition Bureau, which is a law enforcement arm of the federal government tasked with protecting consumers by ensuring fair competition among businesses.
“I urge everyone in Squamish to go onto the Competition Bureau Canada website and fill out a form and make a complaint about the price of gas in Squamish,” Heintzman told The Chief last week.
“There is no reason why Squamish should not pay exactly what, say, Abbotsford is. This is just unfair gouging of our community.”
