Ups and downs felt with rise of fuel prices in N.L.

With gasoline prices soaring into recordhighs throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, some are afraid of the implications, while others are worried about breaking the bank.

Throughout St. John's gasoline costs about $1.50 per litre, and higher again in other parts of the island. In parts of Labrador it's almost$1.80. The increase is due tohigher carbon taxes andrisingoil prices as the global economy slowly emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Derek Hayter, manager of Newfound Cabs, which also operates a bus fleet, told CBC News taxi companies are struggling to cope.

"It's ultimately the taxi driver who pays for it, and the ownerof the company who pays for it. And bus operators too," Hayter said.

"It takes money out of the pocket of the individualand out of the company."

Hayter said rate increases aren't the answer either.

"To increase the rates to compensate for the price of gas, [it] will drive business away. So it's a catch-22," he said.

On the rise

Dennis O'Keefe, founder ofthe Consumer Group for Fair Gas Prices, says he's worried about the hike.

"I'm afraid, not only of where it is, but where it could be in another month or two with the rising price of a barrelof oil," said O'Keefe, the former mayor of St. John's.

Petroleum prices in Newfoundland and Labrador are regulated by the Public Utilities Board, and O'Keefesaid the PUB needs its pricing formula to see if it works in today's economy.

O'Keefe said he also believes a tax cut or rebates should be considered, since the consumer price is nearly 40 per cent taxes.

"There are other creative avenues that might be taken by the province, given the situation," he said.

Opposition PC leader David Brazil told CBC News immediate actionneeds to be taken.

"We feel that an immediate position here needs to be taken to ensure that the price of gasoline is eitherlowered, or that people can understandthat they'll get a rebate at the end of it," Brazil said.

"So if it's money out of their pockets now,they'll get reimbursed at the end of the day so it doesn't change their lifestyle."

Double-edged sword

O'Keefe said he understands there are two sides to the debate. Newfoundland and Labrador is an oil-producing province, reliant on the price of oil to provide revenue, but the price of oil also hits taxpayers' wallets.

"For us here in Newfoundland and Labrador it's kind of like sitting on the sword. We love to see the price of a barrel go up because of what it does for the provincial economy, but we hate to see the price of a barrel go up because of the way it hits us at the pumps," O'Keefe said.

It was only weeks ago when questions were raised about whether the oil and gas industry could survive the pandemic, and a spotlight shown ona shift to greenenergy.

However, higher oil prices are increasingoptimism. Oil companies are preparing once again to invest, as seen in June when a tentative deal was struck to save the Terra Nova oilfield.

For people like Natasha Hunt of transportation company Hunt's Logistics, it's good news.

"We're happyto see where the price is right now.We hope it doesn't go too much higher;we understand it affects the consumer," Hunt said.

"But ultimately we're happy to see some of the price of oil and gas come back, and hopefully that will mean more jobs and more projects for everyone here in our economy inNewfoundland and Labrador."

Hunt's company provides shipping options for customers, so the increased cost of fuel means an increased cost of doing business.

Hunt said her company hasinvestedin new, automatic trucks to keep fuel emissions down andis also focused on driver training and speedmonitoring.

"That has helped us greatly control and maintain those costs," she said.

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