FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION, Ont. -- Motorists in search of relief at the pumps can find it a short drive away.
Four stations on Fort William First Nation have dropped their prices below $1 a litre in more than four years the price settled in under that threshold.
Tom Keesic couldn’t be happier.
He stopped by K&A Variety and Gas Bar on Thursday for a noon-hour fill-up, and was surprised to learn the price per litre was less than a dollar.
“It feels pretty good to have a break at the pumps for a change,” Keesic said.
“But to be honest, I never really pay too much attention to the price because if you want to drive, you’ve got to pay anyway. My opinion on the price is they’re just going to increase it later so we’ll pay later. But it’s a nice break during the holiday.”
Further down City Road, THP Gas and Variety was offering its regular gasoline at $0.975 cents a litre, the seventh-lowest price in Ontario according to OntarioGasPrices.com.
The lowest price in the province belongs to Muncey’s Bear Creek Gas Bar, which is charging 92.5 cents a litre for its regular gasoline.
K&A’s Sue Harmer-Lessy said customers are generally excited to see the price drop under a dollar.
“They’re amazed. They’re taking pictures out at the pumps. They’re taking their receipts and we’re just saying Merry Christmas,” Harmer-Lessy said, a steady stream of vehicles lining up to take advantage of the low prices.
Across the river in Thunder Bay prices have been dropping steadily in recent weeks, but the lowest gas in town still remains the Real Canadian Superstore on Memorial Avenue, which is charging $1.179 for a litre of gasoline.
Most stations are charging in the $1.19, though one station, the Esso on John Street Road, is still collecting $1.269 a litre as of Thursday afternoon.
Drivers in search of the best gas bargain in the area are heading south of the border, where Ryden’s Border Store has dropped its price to 79 cents a litre Canadian.
Harmer-Lessy said she expects the prices to continue to drop, as the price of oil keeps falling.
