Kamloops non-profits weathering high gas prices waiting for respite

KAMLOOPS — It’s something you’ve likely already noticed at the pumps — fuel prices have sky-rocketed to nearly $2 per litre in Kamloops.

The inflated costs are all across Canada and British Columbia is experiencing particularly high prices. For the average driver it means extra money spent on filling the tank. And for non-profits and other organizations who rely on transportation to provide services, it means hundreds of extra dollars per month.

“For the bigger buses, it’s probably around $250-ish, and now they’re creeping up to the $400 mark,” BGC Kamloops Executive Director Traci Anderson says it’s getting pricey to fill up their vans and buses.

BGC is one of several organizations in Kamloops who rely on transportation for their programs and have been feeling the budget pinch of high gas prices. BGC Kamloops drives hundreds of children and youth per week, so Anderson says they’re worried about what the extra expenses will look like at the end of the year if the price trend continues.

“Almost all of our programs incorporate some kind of transportation. Whether it’s picking the kids up from their homes, bringing them to school for breakfast programs, or after school — picking them up at all the schools and bringing them to the club.”

Elsewhere, the Kamloops Food Bank is keeping a close eye the gas gauge. Executive Director Bernadette Siracky says their transport costs have shot up another $600 per month — for the same amount of fuel.

“We don’t have core government funding,” notes Siracky, “so when we experience an increase like that, we have to try and soak it up and figure out where we’re going to get that from.”

Siracky also notes that their client usage has increased by about 22 per cent from one year ago and says that is another reflection of recent cost-of-living inflation.

The Food Bank runs a 5-tonne truck, a 3-tonne truck and a transit van seven days a week. And Warehouse Manager Wes Graham says the kilometres add up.

“Just have to be aware that this is something that is going to impact us. And again — impact our clients, impact other food banks that we serve, other organizations in town that deliver hampers that we provide for delivery of home service.”

Vijay Muralidharan is a senior consultant with consulting firm Kalibrate and says the fuel prices were impacted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and current fear about the latest COVID-19 variant in China has impacted the market. However, given the latest crude market data, Muralidharan and other analysts are expecting prices to start to level off.

“Basically the crude component of the gasoline was about 95 cents a week ago, and that component has come down to 85 cents from a week ago. There’s a ten cent relief on the crude side. And if the crude keeps falling down to 90, and 85, you’re going to see another respite on the crude component.”

And for organizations and non-profits who are committed to keeping their transportation services, any dip in price will be a welcome change.

“The increase in cost to us is going to be substantial,” adds Anderson.