Stratton gas station owner asks for help with border gasolin price disparity

Letter to Editor:
I sent the following letter to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business on April 9th, 2008.

Dear CFIB:
I have an issue that is greatly affecting my business that I would like you to look into.
I own and operate a Gas Station on the border with the U.S. Currently, they are selling gas for $3.30 per gallon. My selling price is $1.29/litre or roughly $5.00 per gallon. Guess where the majority of the people from our area are going?
There are seven gas stations in the small U.S. town across the Border and eight stations in our whole district covering a good 100 km area.
The tax dollar losses and job loss are tremendous. What I am looking for is some sort of break or subsidy for border areas.
Our area has no Transit system whatsoever (not even a Bus); therefore everyone is forced to drive their own vehicle and shop for the cheapest prices available. I look forward to you looking into this matter and speaking out for someone who has been a CFIB voting member for 10 years.
The CFIB is an organization that lobbies for small business owners like me.
They contacted the Small Business Ministry for Canada, the Ministry of Economic Development for Ontario, and the Canada Revenue Agency and received the same response from each.... “Sorry, we can’t help you.”
I don’t blame people for doing what they can to save money, especially when there is such a disparity in prices. I would, however, like people to know that we are trying to keep prices as low as we can and earn a living at the same time. I am positive that most consumers do not realize that the profit margin on fuel (on a good day) is 5.6 cents minus credit or debit card fees, air mile fees, etc. In the end, we, the business owners, might make 3 cents per litre.
The Governments and Oil Companies get the rest. Thank you for allowing me the space in your newspaper.
–Shawn McDonald
Stratton Service