Phew! Oil is going make us move

Oil has reached that magic level of $120 a barrel; in fact, not long after reaching that other mystical milestone of $100.

An OPEC official warns the price could reach $200 a barrel some time in the not-so-distant future - so guess what direction costs are going?

The immediate issues for petroleum prices were a strike at a Scottish oil facility and more trouble on a Nigerian oil line. Longer-term causes include the burgeoning Chinese and Indian economies, now becoming our competitors for increasingly scarce fuel resources.

For the friends of the Kyoto Accord and our slavish adherence to its industrial provisions, this doesn't bode well for our heavy industry competitiveness - and even worse for the West Coast environment, with prevailing westerly winds from the North Pacific.

Oil prices affect us in home heating fuel, but even more quickly at the gasoline pumps. Here in the Valley, prices have already hit near $1.33 regular a litre, and are anticipated to increase each week.

Cries have gone up to the provincial government: reduce the taxes on a litre.

That isn't going to happen.

The government claims the funds are needed for highways. Given the state of those thoroughfares after this rough winter, I can see why. As well, with the price a litre now out of all proportion, any tax reduction would be relatively puny.

We are luckier than others in some parts of the country. We are a small province - geographically and demographically. There are advantages in this. With a population near that of Saskatchewan, we're a seventh the space. Therefore, our population is relatively corralled. Being sort of rural and suburban, we're not likely to have the huge, gas-guzzling traffic situations some may suffer in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver.

Fuel use has to decline, and public transit is one way in which to do it. Here in the Valley, we're fortunate to have the foresight of those who created, maintained and protected a service over the past three decades. It was deeper than just providing bus service - first in Eastern Kings County, then to Berwick, then to West Kings and now from Digby to Windsor.

It was recognized early on as a way to help employment by providing routes to jobs, getting patients to medical appointments and services, and transporting students to school, college, university or training centres. By doing all of this - and it all was foreseen - Kings Transit reduces public assistance and services costs.

It shouldn't stop there. For example, for longer distance freight and passengers, we really need train service in and out of the Valley. But, we have to ask, will people use it?

Our population is dropping: some say rail service would be a draw for population, but we get into the old chicken and egg question - what comes first, the rail service or the people?

Until then, we have to seek or accelerate other energy sources - tidal, wind, nuclear, even coal - so as to free as much petroleum stocks as possible; and to pare our dependence down with conservation and increased technical efficiency.

It's now well past the point of just talking about it.