New Brunswick fuel tax leads to more Canadians traveling to Maine

By Doug Dickinson
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — When New Brunswick’s 2011-12 budget was released on March 22, fuel tax in the province went up approximately three cents per liter. By midnight tax on regular gas had risen from 10.7 cents per liter to 13.6 cents per liter, while diesel fuel had gone up from 16.9 cents per liter to 19.2 cents.
    The added costs of fuel in New Brunswick has led some New Brunswick residents to travel to Maine to save money on gas.
    Kirk White lives in Somerville, New Brunswick and travels to Houlton regularly to buy gas and milk.
Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Doug Dickinson
FILLING UP — Etienne Hache, from Fredericton, New Brunswick, fills up his car’s gas tank at one of Houlton’s gas stations.
    “I have a 75-liter tank and can save between $15-$20 on a fill-up,” said White. “Since I am already over there to pick up parcels at the post office, it’s a no-brainer.”
    White believes that the added expenses from raised gas tax has affected his family’s life.
    “We do not go places as a family as much and have to find other ways to cut back on expenses to compensate for the higher price of fuel.”
    Carl Weston of Weston’s gas station said he thinks money is the biggest reason for an increase in Canadian customers.
     “What I see is the rise in money is bringing Canadians here. Money being at par is the big draw,” said Weston. “Houlton Farms is another big draw here. Once it opens business really picks up.”
    When converted from liters to gallons, Canadians are saving over $1 per gallon by filling up their vehicles in Maine.