'Confused and fearful': As winter sets in, Norman Wells, N.W.T., resident decries fuel costs

A Norman Wells, N.W.T., resident has written a strongly-worded letter to the community's mayor and MLA calling for help in what she calls an "outrageous" situation over fuel costs. 

Suzanne Hall, who has lived in the Sahtu for over 10 years, says she runs a modest household on a single income. Now, she says her monthly income isn't enough to cover both a tank of fuel and her mortgage. 

Residents in the 750-person community have been gripped by a cost-of-living crisis driven by high fuel costs. 

Prices skyrocketed in the community after historic low water levels on the Mackenzie River grounded barges that would usually resupply the community from the river, forcing fuel to be flown in — a costly alternative.

Earlier this month, the town's council passed a motion to declare a state of emergency, and asked for $6.6 million to cover the cost of getting more heating fuel into the community.

Hall said it cost her $6,161 to fill her fuel tank in October, compared to $2,157 in September. 

"Today, I am confused and fearful," Hall wrote in her letter.

'I'm up at night worried about it'

Hall's letter also calls on members of cabinet to take action and declare a state of emergency. 

"The GNWT [Government of the Northwest Territories] must intervene and deal with this matter at the source. Pay Buffalo [Airways] directly for the cost of air barging the fuel," she wrote. "Get this matter out of the hands of the corporate giants, then take over fuel supply operations for Norman Wells, as GNWT does for the rest of the Sahtu region."

Speaking to CBC News, Hall said she wants to see Imperial Oil be transparent in its fuel pricing, and that elected leaders should hold the company accountable. 

"I'm up at night worried about it. I'm worried about how I'm going to get through the holidays. I haven't told some of my family in the south what's going on because I don't want them to worry," Hall said. 

"The toll it takes on your mental health is ... It's a lot. Not an evening has gone by that I haven't shed a tear, either for my own frustration or listening to the stories of my neighbours."

Hall said she was having trouble working and focusing on anything else, so she decided to put her concerns down on paper. 

"I truly am sick about this and I can't get it out of my head," she said. 

'Essential to our survival'

Hall said the situation is becoming more urgent given the approaching winter temperatures. 

"This is essential to our survival. This is not something that is optional for most of us. Not heating our homes in the winter is not an option."

Until recently, Hall always thought she would retire in the Sahtu. That doesn't seem like an option anymore, she said. 

"We need to share our stories because we need the public to understand, to put pressure on the powers that be."

Imperial Oil has said it will temporarily lower the price of fuel being flown into Norman Wells, N.W.T., by $1.69  — but there's a catch.

In a Facebook post last week, Imperial Oil said its wholesale fuel price for Norman Wells includes air transportation at a cost of $3.38 per litre. It plans to slash that part of its pricing in half, bringing down the wholesale price of heating oil by $1.69.

The catch is that once the company can truck fuel in again, it'll still keep charging the air transportation cost until it recoups that money.

Last week, the territory announced it was doubling the home heating subsidy for seniors in Norman Wells from $750 to $1,455 per month.

Earlier in October, the territory also unveiled a new funding program that would provide up to $30,000 to businesses and governments in the Sahtu and Beaufort Delta regions affected by the barge cancellations.

But Hall said it's not enough, and she wants to see the N.W.T. government to take over the process from Imperial Oil.

"Somebody needs to be holding them accountable for the mess they've put this community in," Hall said.