They’re going to have to start making our currency out of rubber bands so we can stretch it farther with all the increasing demands on our money.
The latest crisis, of course, is pumping big bucks into our gas tanks.
Over the past few years, you’ve no doubt noticed how prices at the pump have occasionally dropped a cent or two and then remained stable for a while before suddenly shooting up by five to eight cents out of the blue.
The 10 cent per litre spike we’ve just experienced is the largest yet and there are no signs it will come down anytime soon; in fact, probably rising a few more cents as we head toward the summer.
We’ve heard every reason in the book about why prices rise. A flood here, a hurricane there, a refinery problem somewhere else.
The bottom line is there’s really no good reason. Many people believe prices are tied to the cost of a barrel of oil, but that doesn’t seem to hold true. Oil prices have dropped many times and the cost at the pump has still been known to go up.
Lucky for us, our little corner of the world is continually subjected to having the highest prices in North America. Gee, they probably even pay less in remote areas of Nunavut.
There are no easy solutions coming to alleviate the problem so we’re stuck with having to pay the price and cut back somewhere else.
Alternative transportation options have obviously stalled on Vancouver Island and, for many, parking their vehicles is just not viable because there’s no other practical way to get around.
Keep those wallets open. Barring a major boycott here to throttle the industry, there’s no relief in sight.