Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I rose to complain of the excessive price increase in gasoline at the sole retail outlet in Iqaluit. The president of the company of Byers Gaz Bar, Mr. Charles Asselin, called me this morning from Montreal to inform me that the price change to 77 cents a litre was the result of a miscalculation and was done without the president's knowledge and that, accordingly, the price would be reduced to 76.1 cents per litre effective this morning.

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Mr. Speaker, this issue has caused great concern to many of my constituents, especially hunters and people who live on the land. Although I am pleased with today's small rollback in prices, I wish to inform this House that this incident has now caused me to focus on and pursue two other issues which have emerged: firstly, whether the mark-up on gasoline prices by this sole vendor in Iqaluit is excessive; and, whether there are any limits which can be imposed on a monopoly in a isolated Arctic community.

I have learned that gasoline is purchased by the local gas station in Iqaluit for 49.76 cents per litre. The present mark-up charged on gasoline in Iqaluit, even with today's lowered prices, is over 26 cents per litre. When the gas bar last changed hands in May 1992, the mark-up was then only 13 cents a litre and gas has not increased significantly in cost since then.

I will still be asking the Minister of Safety and Public Services to pursue what avenues are available to review the fairness of these mark-ups.

Mr. Speaker, I have one more point I would like to make, but I will need to request unanimous consent. to conclude.