Generally I like to be right about things I predict, generally but not always. Some time ago I had sent out a mailer talking about how the price of gasoline and other fuels could double. I received some criticism for being alarmist and was not taken all that seriously. Unfortunately, with the price of gas going up every day my general point has been proved right.

So what should we do now? Fuel is a necessity and not a luxury in a province as big as ours, so the problem should not be ignored. First, we should NOT call for even HIGHER fuel prices and then encourage people to use public transportation as NDP leader Jack Layton, and Liberal environment minister Stephane Dion have done. People need their vehicles to get around Saskatchewan; you can’t hop a bus from Wakaw to Saskatoon just anytime. Saskatchewan isn’t Toronto.

The first positive thing to do is cut the tax on gas and diesel. The tax cut should not just be one or two cents either; it should be substantive and not just symbolic.

Secondly, the federal government should let Saskatchewan keep its own oil and gas revenue, just as Newfoundland and Nova Scotia are allowed to keep their revenue. (This would have been about $800 million in 2004.) Money from this fund plus the extra revenue the provincial government is receiving should go to the people of Saskatchewan. Tax cuts or a direct refund to residents would really help pay the higher energy bills. If every household in the province had an extra $2,000 it would really help fill up the tank of quite a few cars and trucks.

The plan I’ve laid out above is just a few basic ideas and more points could and should be added, (particularly for farmers and truckers). However, the point is the government does have the resources to deal with the problem should it choose to do so. Gas may be going up, but in a province that exports oil we should be benefiting and not suffering.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament, and I welcome your feedback. Write or call my offices.