The decision comes after months of trying in vain to convince the Department of Public Works' petroleum products division that gasoline delivered to Gjoa Haven and nearby Taloyoak during the 1998 fuel resupply is substandard. Hunters who rely on their machines to feed their families have reported a sharp rise in mechanical problems since the beginning of winter. Community leaders complain that the need for costly replacement parts is putting a strain on residents whose main source of income is social assistance. On one day alone last month, Angottitauruq said 11 machines broke down on the 125-kilometre journey across the sea ice from Taloyoak to Gjoa Haven. Eleven is a lot on one day on a trip like that.
Some local mechanics suspect the gasoline has been tainted with fuel oil.
Others suggest the octane level in the gas is too low. The Department of Public Works has said tests show nothing wrong with the fuel, but the mayor thinks the government may be trying to postpone dealing with the problem until new fuel can be barged in to the community later this year. And what makes it more annoying is that we have a new government in place in Nunavut and we have our own MLA and ministers in place, and they seem to be at the same time ignoring our concern. We don't need a test to know that the gas is breaking our machines. These materials may not be reprinted for commercial publication in print, or any other media, without the permission of the publisher.