'Confused and fearful': As winter sets in, Norman Wells, N.W.T., resident decries fuel costs
CBC
A Norman Wells, N.W.T., resident has written a strongly-worded letter to the community's mayor and MLA calling for help in what she calls an "outrageous" situation over fuel costs.
Suzanne Hall, who has lived in the Sahtu for over 10 years, says she runs a modest household on a single income. Now, she says her monthly income isn't enough to cover both a tank of fuel and her mortgage.
Residents in the 750-person community have been gripped by a cost-of-living crisis driven by high fuel costs.
Prices skyrocketed in the community after historic low water levels on the Mackenzie River grounded barges that would usually resupply the community from the river, forcing fuel to be flown in — a costly alternative.
Earlier this month, the town's council passed a motion to declare a state of emergency, and asked for $6.6 million to cover the cost of getting more heating fuel into the community.
Hall said it cost her $6,161 to fill her fuel tank in October, compared to $2,157 in September.
"Today, I am confused and fearful," Hall wrote in her letter.
Hall's letter also calls on members of cabinet to take action and declare a state of emergency.
"The GNWT [Government of the Northwest Territories] must intervene and deal with this matter at the source. Pay Buffalo [Airways] directly for the cost of air barging the fuel," she wrote. "Get this matter out of the hands of the corporate giants, then take over fuel supply operations for Norman Wells, as GNWT does for the rest of the Sahtu region."
Speaking to CBC News, Hall said she wants to see Imperial Oil be transparent in its fuel pricing, and that elected leaders should hold the company accountable.
"I'm up at night worried about it. I'm worried about how I'm going to get through the holidays. I haven't told some of my family in the south what's going on because I don't want them to worry," Hall said.
"The toll it takes on your mental health is ... It's a lot. Not an evening has gone by that I haven't shed a tear, either for my own frustration or listening to the stories of my neighbours."
Hall said she was having trouble working and focusing on anything else, so she decided to put her concerns down on paper.
"I truly am sick about this and I can't get it out of my head," she said.
James Benesh was so interested in researching an online hockey draft, he ended up with one of the largest-known collections of hockey books and eventually being called a hockey historian.
A recent market and fundraiser showcasing Palestinian-owned businesses in Hamilton, including new start-ups by people from Gaza who now call the city home, was met with “incredible” support, organizers say.
This time next year, Joellah Fletcher plans to be prepping or taking her final exams to become a certified Red Seal carpenter.
East of the small village of Coutts, Alta., a stone’s throw from the border with the United States, Cindy Bosch’s day-to-day life looks much like it did a year ago.
For years, police have been on the front lines of mental health crisis calls in Toronto, but the city's police chief believes it's now time to rethink that approach.
One of Prince Edward Island’s last surviving Second World War veterans has died.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada has too much regulation and not enough investments in clean energy and technology — and he's making his most direct repudiation yet of his predecessor's environmental policies.
WARNING: This story contains distressing content, including racist, violent and antisemitic language.
A national Jewish advocacy organization is taking legal action against Manitoba's medical regulator over a complaint it made last year alleging a prominent doctor made antisemitic comments on social media.
A cat that went missing in a remote area of northeastern B.C. is finally back home with its family in Oklahoma, five months later.
It wasn’t clear trolleys would be a hit in Medicine Hat, but the Sunshine Trolley has wound its way into Hatters’ hearts.
More than 200 volunteers and politicians gathered in Etobicoke Saturday for the Daily Bread Food Bank’s holiday sort.
The rising cost-of-living has already made supporting a family difficult this year. But, the holidays can make staying on budget that much harder.