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Depending on the availability and demand, the price of gasoline at the wholesale level will either go up or down. Since gas is a basic com- modity around the world, when the demand is greater than the supply, prices soar. As the world's population and Canadian standard of living increases, the gneater is the demand for crude oil and,iultimately, gasoline. Is the greater percentage going to the own- ers, the transporters or even the people who pump our gas? Many consumers think that most of the money is going straight to the gas companies. We did. However, there are many factors that affect rising gas prices. On average, 48 per cent of the total cost goes toward the crude oil cost, 32 to taxes, 17 to refining and marketing, and three per cent goes towards profit, according to Petro-Canada. Crude oil and natural gas prices are affected by a number of factors including: supply and demand; political events; and market competi- tion. BY CHRIS BOAKE SCOTT MILLER AND BRENT HEWLETT Mth today’s raging gas prices burning a hole in consumers’ pockets, it is natural for us to wonder where our gas money is going. Brent Hewlett (from left), Scott Miller and Chris Boake, seen fill- ing up at the Stoufl'ville Cana- dian Tire gas bar, wanted to find out where their gas money goes. Crude oil costs and taxes are the big-ticket ingredi- ents in the pump price. They also asked one of their teachers, scientist Andrew Cherkas, for his take on high gas prices. Don’t blame gas stations for pumped- up prices Stouflville Dis- trict Secondary School students Markham Ribfest Manda: {so wantecl'. n July 11 -12-13 SUNâ€"TRIBUNE PEOPLE Stouflville District Secondary School students Brent Hewlett, Scott Miller and Chris Boake, wanted to find out where their gas money goes. They were surprised. They also investigated solutions to our big-time gas bills, in-house. Call Susan, Judy or Linda He believes that with our economy develop- ing so quickly and gas becoming such a depen- dant resource, it is our duty to cut down on the use of gasoline in our lives. Gas prices will continue to rise unless we find an alternative method to feed our eco- nomic standards of living. The reality in today’s society is we survive on gas and no matter how much gas prices go up there will still be consumers buying this resource. Maybe the answer to these high gas prices is for citizens to be smarter in their gas consumption. Dr. Andrew Cherkas, a scientist and teacher at Stouffville District Secondary School, thinks so. ‘We can’t use hioluels because these use ingredients such as crops. So it we cut down crops there won’t be any loud. I think we need to stop mass building of houses on farmers’ fields so that there can he more locally grown lood.’ He lives what he preaches, walking to school Dr. Andrew Cherkas Stou/fville District Secondary School 905.294.2200 Markham Fairgrounds If the Chinese want to be like us than there is a greater demand for crude oil and natural gas. As more and more countries gain a better standard of living, the greater the demand for natural gas. Therefore, the gas prices will rise because of the great demand. I think we need to stop mass building of houses on farmers’ fields so that there can be more locally grown food. Qmfiom Can we sustain our lifestyie other countries trying to be like us? Dr: Cherkas: Fdr éxample Canada's popula- tion is about 36 million and China's is 1.3 bil- lion. 0 Use alternative methods. We can’t use bio- fuels because these use ingredients such as crops. 80 if we cut down crops there won’t be any food. from his home in east-end Stouffville. Qmfiom Ifyou could change something in our energy supply system what would it be? 0 Create a new economy with less use of gasoline. 0 Cut down on transportation. 0 Use farmland to feed us locally. Mth locally grown food, there is less transportation involved. Dr. lrwduld change the whole sys- tem. www.markhamribfest.com Swuffville Sunâ€"'I'ribune I Saturday, lune 14, 2008 i Have something to say about these or other stories? E-mail us at jmason@yrmg.com â€" loe Fantauzzi Get gardening assistance The Stouffville Horticulture Society meets at Stoufi‘ville Unit- ed Church Monday at 7:30. “You don’t need knowledge about gardening,” spokesperson Diane Ward said. “We get togethâ€" er to share plants and what we know." A guest speaker from Richters Herbs in Goodwood will address the group. Fatalities on OPP-patrolled highways have plunged 34.4 per cent thus far in 2008, the force said. Speed-related deaths are down nearly 42 per cent over the same period last year. Want some help with that gardening project? It was the second time the man had been caught under the stunt driving legislation this yeaI, OPP said. On Wednesday in a state- ment, Commissioner Julian Fantino said the OPP will con- tinue enforcing the street rac- ing/stunt driving legislation, adding despite what he called “uninformed rhetoric to the con- trary", the force's enforcement is achieving positive results. A 30-year-old Stoufiville man was charged under the province's stunt driving law, his vehicle was seized for a week and his driver’s licence was suspended for seven days. Second racing charge for Stouffville driver At about 12:40 pm. on June 6, OPP officers conducting radar on Hwy. 403 clocked a vehicle travelling more than 160 km/h in a 100 km/ h zone, police said. A Stoufivifle man was charged with street racing for the second time last week in Brant county, according to Ontario Provincial Police. Whitchurch-Stouffville News Digest Visit gar/(regioncom for morv on these and other stories SOUND OFF