22 - Wednesday, December 10, 1986 - North Shore News iew Year to br THE 2.4 MILLION member, not-for-profit Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) reported in October that gasoline prices had dropped one cent per litre since July. Motorists will not have long to enjoy the mini-windfall, however, as the federal government will be increasing the excise. tax on gasoline by one cent per litre January 1, 1987. The CAA monitors gasoline prices throughout Canada on a monthly basis and releases a quarterly .:port with figures pro- vided by Runzheimer Canada Inc., of Toronto. Runzheimer is an in- TAX firm specializing in transportation, travel and living costs. Canadian gasoline prices bepen to tumble in response to the drop in world oil prices carlier this year. As the cheaper oil made its way through the refineries, consumers enjoyed the first significant gas price reductions in recent history. The promising gas price decreases witnessed through the summer months have now wound down to a trickle and motorists in Canada have yet to reap equivalent price savings as their U.S. counterparts. At the end of August, motorists south of the border were paying about 31 cents Cdn. for a fitre of ng ih: self-serve station. Americans motoring to Canada on_ their summer holidays were no doubt shocked by Canadian gasoline prices which are on average 45 per cent higher than U.S. prices even after exchange rates have been considered. According to CAA executive vice-president, Bob Erb, ‘‘Ever since gasoline prices started dropp- ing in North America, the price gap between motor fuel in Canada and the U.S. has increased. While American motorists have benefited from lower motor fuel taxes and a competitive marketplace, Cana- dian motorists have faced increas- ner prices.’” In Canada, the amount of direct taxes levied on gasoline is roughly double that in the U.S. This has been a major factor in making Canadian gasoline considerably more expensive than U.S. gas. As a result, the ability of Canada’s transporta- tion-dependent industries to com- pete with the U.S. has been reduc- ed, impacting negatively on our trade position with our largest forcign market. These facts not- withstanding, the federal gov- ernment is still planning to impose an additional burden on consumers in general by increasing the excise gas prices CAA’s president, Robert Brodie, has said, ‘‘The federal government gasoline excise tax in- crease will cost Canadians an addi- tional $300 million next year. Fur- ther, by making transportation- dependent industries less com- petitive it may cost the economy on the whole many millions more.” In September, British Colum- bia’s average price for regular unleaded at a self serve was 44.9 cents per litre. Alberta, at 39.3 cents per litre, had the lowest prices in Canada while New- foundland, at 52.6 cents per litre ternational management consultant regular 66 © COMPLETE MECHANICAL REPAIRS & SERVICE @ COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIRS & PAINTING “All makes & models of cars, trucks & R.V.'s”’ x “FREE COURTESY CARS AVAILABLE” x So PERFORMANCE CAR STEREO XMAS GIFT IDEAS— Radar Detectors as iw as °189 — Car Alarms (installed) as low as $450°° AUTHORIZED DEALERS FOR BLAUPUNKT CHIMES ROR REY DENON pu 986-1171 150 PEMBERTON AVE NORTH VAN. unleaded gasoline at a ed gasoline taxes and inflated FOR THE FINEST IN CUSTOM 28 POLISHING, INTERIOR SHAMPOOING, STEAM CLEANING MOTORS & WHEELS ETC, ON LY 5858 host CARS PLEASE PHONE FOR APPOINTMENT NORTH VAN UNDERCOATING 1311 PEMBERTON AVE. 987-4477 WE'RE THE PROFESSIONALS 24 YRS. SAME LOCATION Jaguar Plus IMPORT SPECIALISTS CLAIMS WELCOMED 1.C.B.C. MECHANICAL BODYWORK DETAILING 1519 CLYDE AVE. WEST VANCOUVER MINOR & MAJOR INTERIOR CLEANING EXTERIOR POLISHING RUST PROOFING 925-1009 Your Compiete One Stop Service Centre re ARTS SERVICE 985-9311 PARTS 985-1513 NORTHSHORE NISSAN LTD. 1160 Manne Orve. N.Var. tax by 28 per cent in January. had the highest. 28th year of service to tens of thousands of domestic & foreign car & light truck owners 1.C.8.C. vendor BCAA approved A.R.A. certified Quality workmanship — Trustworthy service 985-7455, 174 Pemberton Ave. N. Van. An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car and vanished. 1315 COTTON DRIVE COLLISION NORTH VANCOUVER uD For fast, professional repairs and service of your cooling system and/or air conditioner, come direct to the specialists DRIVE IN SERVICE Just off Pemberton, drive around back. Mon-Fri. 8:00-5:30. Sat. 8:00-3:30 OVER 35 YEARS ON THE NORTH SHORE NOR EST RADIATORS 1175 West 14th Si. 4 Var 884-0374