Record-high gas prices leave major impacts on low-income families in N.S.
At $1.49 per litre, gas prices in the Sydney, N.S. area are the highest they have ever been.
It’s the most you'll pay at the pumps anywhere in Nova Scotia after gas went up more than three cents a litre overnight Thursday. While it’s impacting anyone who drives, the pain at the pumps is being felt most by people living on low incomes.
Chester Borden is executive director of the Boys and Girls Club in Whitney Pier, N.S. Many of those who use the facility come from low-income backgrounds.
"We do travel a lot. We have a bus and a van," Borden said.
He added with the latest jump in fuel costs, the club will likely have to cut down on field trips.
"That's probably right. Because again, as a non-profit you set your budget in April, and when you have a spike like this, you have to go back and re-evaluate all your programs. And travel is a big thing here, it's a big cost for us," said Borden.
At the Glace Bay Food Bank, getting a grocery order to a family in need now comes at an added cost for the not-for-profit.
"We have drivers here that go and pick up our orders from different stores that donate," says food bank coordinator Linda MacRae. “Definitely going to impact them. I don't know how long they're going to be able to volunteer to do that because of the gas prices."
Mike Pace sells home heating oil and propane in the Sydney area. He was shocked at the gas prices he woke up to Friday morning.
"It's been a lot of years that I've been doing this, and that is the highest gas price I've seen," Pace said.
Pace added for lower-income customers who are often paying in installments to heat their homes and apartments, the high prices of the oil itself - and the fuel for their trucks to get it there - makes for a big increase.
"We have to go twice as many times to that customer who's ordering a pre-set amount," Pace said. “Not only are they paying more, they're expenses will double. So will ours."
Borden says these gas prices, on top of the other effects of inflation these days, all have him feeling like he's between a rock and a hard place.
"When COVID-19 hit, we went from serving a hundred kids a day at our location to serving a community for food," Borden said. “The price of food has gone up. The price of gas has gone up. It seems everything is going up and more people need."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.