Mr. Ross Belsher (Fraser Valley East):

Mr. Speaker, for the past few weeks Canadians have been writing to their Members of Parliament about the gasoline retail price differential which exists between Canada and the United States. Not only does the retail price of gasoline vary between countries, it also varies between regions. Even cities which are close to one another will show price differences.

In my riding of Fraser Valley East the retail price of a litre of leaded gasoline in Abbotsford is 56.2 cents. Less than 40 kilometres away in Greater Vancouver the price for an identical litre of gasoline is also 56.2 cents. However, a transit tax of approximately one cent per litre of gasoline in levied in the Vancouver area, whereas Abbotsford has no such extra tax. Why then is the price of gasoline the same as in Vancouver?

Surely, the price of gasoline should be cheaper in Abbotsford than in Vancouver. But this is not the case.

In September of 1985 the Mayor of Abbotsford wrote to all the major oil companies about their pricing practices. In my opinion the Mayor received a less than satisfactory answer. Perhaps the oil companies were reluctant to pass on the benefits of cheaper gasoline to smaller communities. It seems that all the major oil companies follow a schedule of prices and are not anxious to compete with each other on prices. Only the independent gasoline retailers seem to be giving the consumer a break-at least they give a 4 per cent cash discount.

Mr. Belsher:

Mr. Speaker, I have a comment about the safety aspect. I must remind the Hon. Member for York West (Mr. Marchi) that the Minister of Transport (Mr. Mazankow-ski) instituted the Dubin inquiry in 1979. The findings of that report are now being carried out. The Aeronautics Act of last year is a part of that report. Safety issues are uppermost in the Minister's deliberations.

Talking about what happened in the U.S. over the air traffic controllers is another issue. It is not part of the deregulation problem. Last week only one organization condemned deregulation, namely, the machinists union. Even the President of the Airline Pilots Association said deregulation had benefited the majority of people. It had been detrimental to his union but to the majority of people it was of benefit.

With deregulation in the United States, employment has increased while ours in a regulated society has gone down. Even the aviation consumers action group headed by Ralph Nader told us there were 200 communities which had lost service prior to 1978. That was in a regulated environment. When we start talking about what is going to happen, the Hon. Member for York West should tell us in a balanced perspective way what it is he is talking about. The Minister has brought in regulations and has brought in a method of input even before the legislation is introduced. What more can the Hon. Member ask for?

Mr. Belsher:

I have a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Are we finished with petitions?

Mr. Ross Belsher (Fraser Valley East):

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to the House a petition from the Association for Reformed Political Action located in Fraser Valley East. This association believes that marriage is an institution given to mankind by God and that the marriage vows carry the obligation of life-long commitment given under oath before God and witnesses. They are concerned about the federal Government's divorce legislation and ask Parliament to retract any legislation which would permit no fault divorce, no court divorce, or any other means of making divorce quick and easy.

Mr. Belsher:

I was up three times, Mr. Speaker.