For several months gas retailers on this side of the border have been wondering what the provincial government is going to do to level the playing field with their competition in New Brunswick.
Unfortunately, not much has changed other than the fact the price gap remains and the number of players gets smaller.
Last week, officials with Co-op Atlantic announced plans to close their gas station in Amherst at the end of this month citing higher gas prices in this province compared to New Brunswick just a few kilometres away.
Amherst Mayor Robert Small suggested the NDP government lower the motive fuel tax to equal the price of gas between Amherst and New Brunswick, a longtime gas retailer suggested basically doing the same for 60 days so the province can collect the data it requires on whether such a move would stop the flow of people across the border to fuel up, purchase milk and other products in Aulac, Sackville and even Moncton.
While government has said little about either proposal, other than to say any reasonable policy option will be considered, it's very likely the province's financial situation will trump any attempt to lower taxes in
Amherst to ease the burden on retailers.
Service Nova Scotia Minister Ramona Jennex has said she's watching the gas situation closely in Amherst, just as Finance Minister Graham Steele is monitoring the cross-border shopping issue. Watching the wheels turn as they
cross the border to New Brunswick is one thing, doing something to stop it is another.
The people of Cumberland County have waited long enough for government to do something to lessen the pain at the pumps. It's time for the decision-makers in Halifax to act now to narrow that price gap, even if it means dipping
into the provincial treasury because the economy is Slowly becoming a casualty and the people of Cumberland are being thrown under the bus - something they won't forget next time they go to the polls.
