Ontario drivers woke up Thursday to an average gas price of 170.2 cents per liter and Premier Doug Ford was among those frustrated by rising gas prices.
During a question-and-answer period at a stop in Oakville, Ont., Ford talked about gas prices, citing concerns about price gouging and comparisons to gas prices south of the border.
Why did gasoline prices rise?
The average gas price in Ontario rose 7.7 cents overnight due to the switch from winter to summer gas, but depending on where you are in the province, you may have seen a jump of up to 22.3 cents.
“Last night you go out and you’re sitting for 20 minutes waiting in line for gas, you know, and it’s unacceptable. Everywhere I went, it was about a dollar, 59. You wake up this morning and it’s $1.80. You know, it’s absolutely disgusting.”
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Ford first directed his frustration at oil companies, wondering if gas station tanks are running out of winter gas overnight or if consumers are being scammed.
“My opinion is that it’s not physically possible to drain every single gas station and put fresh material in them, so you’re either putting fresh material in last month or you’re ripping people off right now.”
He then pointed to prices in the United States, particularly in Illinois and Minnesota, which have similar climates, where prices have not risen.
When do gasoline prices go up?
However, Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, said those U.S. markets (as well as western Canada and northwestern Ontario) made the switch from winter gasoline to summer gasoline on March 15, as those regions are tied to Chicago comprehensive prices, while most Ontario prices are tied to what’s happening in New York Harbor, which switched to summer mixing on April 16.
“Most of the time, refineries will have already started producing summer blend refined gasoline even before then. But that is the date they had to collect it.”
While McTeague admitted that not all gas stations may have changed and that some people are purchasing winter gasoline at summer gasoline prices, he emphasized that the price is not based on the cost of gasoline within the station, but rather how much the station will have to pay to replace that gas.
Gasoline prices in Ontario
Southwestern Ontario:
- Sarnia: Average price of 178.9 cents per liter, 22.3 cents more than Wednesday
- Windsor: average price 177.6 cents per litre, up 15.7 cents
- London: average price 171.1 cents per litre, up 7.1 cents
- Kitchener: average price 173.1 cents per liter, up nine cents
- Guelph: average price 178.9 cents per liter, up 15.3 cents
Central Ontario:
- Hamilton: average price of 169.8 cents per liter, up nine cents
- Toronto: average price 169.7 cents per liter, up 8.1 cents
- Barrie: average price 172.2 cents per liter, up 11.3 cents
Eastern Ontario:
- Kingston: average price 179.9 cents per litre, up 16 cents
- Peterborough: average price 169.9p per litre, up 12.3p
- Ottawa: average price 173.1 cents per liter, up 13.3 cents
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