National gas prices are continuing their rise to staggering highs this weekend, with drivers in Vancouver told to brace for as much as $2.34 per litre at the pumps.
Figures on the fuel tracker GasBuddy show the national average price of regular gas reached $1.95 per litre on Saturday afternoon, with provincial averages peaking at $2.15 in Newfoundland and Labrador and $2.11 in British Columbia.
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“My concern is that this is going to cascade throughout the economy,” Dan McTeague, a former Liberal MP and current president of the group Canadians for Affordable Energy, told CBC News Network on Saturday.
“I’ve not seen anything like this since my days doing this as a member of Parliament [in 2008].… At least back then, the Canadian dollar was strong and it shielded Canadians to these higher prices.”
McTeague said in another interview that Canadians “are taking a pounding on this and it’s not the ones who drive for kicks and giggles, it’s the ones that need this to get to work.… And it will be long term.”
He said these prices are unsustainable for the middle class and those on fixed incomes.
Many experts have attributed soaring gas prices to market destabilization brought on by Russia’s attack on Ukraine, as well as recovering global demand as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
McTeague acknowledged those as factors, but characterized the spike as more of a supply issue that predates the war and is only being exacerbated now.
He called for a temporary suspension of the carbon tax and for Ottawa to offer an immediate energy rebate, noting that soaring gas prices have also increased the federal GST haul.
“They’re making money hand over-over-fist. It seems to me that it would be wise for them to at least consider some kind of a rebate, or at least a way to alleviate, through maybe a GST rebate, to insulate and help those on fixed incomes and those of course who are having a tough go of it,” said McTeague.
B.C. premier tells residents to reduce trips
On Friday, B.C. Premier John Horgan said reducing taxes would be a “short-sighted” plan that only offers a “modest amount” of relief.
He said he has asked the finance minister “to bring forward a basket of initiatives because this is not a short-term issue.”
Until then, he encouraged residents to reduce travel costs where possible.
“We need to do that by all of us taking the steps that we can to reduce the amount we spend and also ensuring that we’re working together. If you’re going to the grocery store and you know you’ve got a neighbour that needs something, ask if you can pick it up for them and reduce the number of trips that we take,” he said.
“Right now I encourage people to think before you hop in the car — do you need to make that trip?”
As prices continue to increase, gas stations in Ontario are reporting a rise in fuel theft.
Gas Wizard, another gas price tracker, predicted significant jumps in various cities Sunday, with Vancouver expected to see prices surge six cents to a national high of $2.34 per litre.
Montreal is projected to see a four-cent jump to $2.15, and Toronto is on pace for a six-cent increase that will take average prices to $2.09.
St. John’s is expected to see the biggest leap Sunday at 13 cents to $2.24 per litre.
Prices in Edmonton are projected to be among the lowest at $1.70 per litre.
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