This is an old news story from CBC New Brunswick 2000-03-14, but I thought it might be
of interest to the group.
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Border-crossing for cheaper gas
ST. STEPHEN - The price of gasoline has many motorists
shopping around for
the best deal. Right now that appears to be across the
U.S. border.
At an Irving station in Calais, Maine, the dealer is
listing the Canadian price for his New Brunswick
customers at 61.6 cents a litre.
Station owner Phil Phee says he takes the time to do
the metric and currency conversions to attract
Canadian motorists.
"We try to figure it out in the litres and the gallons for
them and everything," he
says. "They're still saving quite a bit by getting it on
the American side," Phee
says.
The low U.S. price makes things tough for an Irving
station in St. Stephen that is
selling gas for 15 cents a litre more.
Doug Bartlett, owner of the Red Rooster Restaurant and gas
bar, says the only
thing keeping his customers at home is his friendly
service and the argument
that motorists are getting a better quality product when
they buy Canadian gas.
"The only thing I keep telling my customers is we do get
better gas mileage," he
says. "They save a few dollars by going over there but I
don't think they save in
the long run."
There are predictions the price in the U.S. could go as
high as $2 a gallon, but
people along the border can take some comfort in knowing
that works out to just
77 cents a litre.
