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Gasoline price jumps almost 13 cents a litre

The Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 8:29 PM EST 11/09/08

Hurricane Ike blamed for threat to gulf coast oil refineries ...Read the full article

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  1. Andrew S from Canada writes: This is the biggest gouge to consumers in the history of Canada. Of course our socialist government will just sit back and let it happen.

    To everyone: DO NOT BUY GAS TOMORROW.
  2. Slim Pickens from Canada writes: Of course not...BUY IT TONIGHT!!!
  3. gender bender from Espanola, Canada writes: The liberals are worried about gas prices being too high in yet want to raise them via taxes if they get in power.
    I have to admit even George Orwell could'nt have thought of that. Has'nt anybody asked mcteague about that?
  4. Winston Smith from Canada writes: The biggest thieve at the retail gas pump are all sorts of government taxes on tax. Why is the Federal exercise tax still being charged when the GST was supposed to have replaced it? And why is the GST charged on the Federal exercise tax?
  5. James Hurstle from Victoria, Canada writes: Good news! Should be jumping higher. Stop driving and polluting our environment.
  6. kelly moss from winnipeg, Canada writes: people drive too much ( me too) - let the drivers pay and suffer a bit
  7. john setta from Canada writes: They the oil companies just want to keep making more profit, even if the price of oil goes down.

    I wonder what will happen when oil falls below $80 a barrel.

    They will just keep pushing the gas price up with what ever the reason they make up.

    God save the oil companies for there stock price might go down.
  8. steven cooke from Toronto, Canada writes: I find Andrew's idea that a government that allows prices rise because of market forces is somehow socialist beyond Orwellian. Assuming he's not being ironical. it's both sad and funny. No wonder politicians don't place much faith in the voters acuity.
  9. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: The price of oil has dropped from $145 to just over $100 and the oil companies have the nerve to RAISE the price at the pumps??? This is bloody ridiculous!
  10. boom boom from Canada writes: If you don't like it, don't drive. Carpool, cycle, whatever. But quit your griping. And buy some oil stocks.
  11. Pliny the Elder from Canada writes: OK then. Let's nationalize all our oil reserves and refineries, subsidize Canadian purchasers and sell outside the country at a much higher price.
  12. i. ignatius from Mount Pleasant, Canada writes: heh, interesting.

    that's the equivalent of 49 cents per US gallon.

    if the folks south of us had a one day increase like that, there would be another revolution!
  13. rick from river city from Canada writes: no post yet that Harper got the oil barons to do this on purpose to sidetrack the green shift or make a commercial of Layton playing Obama. Hmmm, maybe its just the market.
  14. Tim Cares from Toronto, Canada writes: kelly moss from winnipeg, Canada writes: people drive too much ( me too) - let the drivers pay and suffer a bit ...

    I don't have a problem with your sentiments, i just don't want the oil companies to get the money.
    So I suggest everyone send me a cheque every month for 5 cents per litre of gas you purchased during the previous month.
    Thank you for your support.
  15. Lawrence Hutchinson from Houston, United States writes: American wholesale prices jumped Thursday as Hurricane Ike threatens the American Gulf Coast, a refining hub. But when Hurricane Gustav struck a few weeks ago, there was little increase in Canadian pump prices, Mr. McTeague noted.

    “Our economy is shrinking and gas companies are ripping Canadians off,” he added in a statement. “This extra 10 cents/litre does not reflect any sort of supply and demand dynamic.”

    Huh?! With one million people currently evacuating in the face of a storm almost as big as the state of Texas, gulf coast refineries which supply 25 percent of U.S. supplies are shut down. Gas stations in the area are pretty much out of gas. No 'supply and demand dynamic!?'
  16. Jeremiah Travistock from Regina, Canada writes:

    Linda McQuack endorses the Dion carbon tax as do many tongue in cheek liberals. And Ontarians, who are becoming as stupid as a stone, will vote for the carbon tax because they always vote liberal-the fact that their domestic car industry is teetering on complete collapse seems irrelevant to the Ontarian. If these people were in the middle of an ocean and needed to keep warm, they'd chop a hole in the center of their boat in order to get some wood for burning. Well, we know which province Forest Gump hails from.
  17. Gardiner Westbound from Canada writes:
    The competitive market is broken. Canada needs a windfall profits tax applicable to oil company revenues. Incredibly the Liberals are promising to increase gasoline taxes!
  18. Vote NDP in the next federal/provincial election from Toronto, Canada writes: This is the biggest fraud in Canadian history, more fraudulent than the Bre-X gold scandal in 1997. Why does the price need to be increased 12 cents. Has the cost of making, transporting etc... gasoline to Canadian gas retailers increased? No it hasn't. So that means only one thing. Profits and lots of them.

    I guess the oil companies dont know what the definition of stealing is because that's what they're doing to consumers by raising prices but quality or costs hasn't increased.

    We need to stand up to these mean oil companies. In fact, government should step in and legislate a maximum price. And I dont care about the arguments against price ceilings since oil companies have more than enough to bring oil and gas to market.
  19. rick from river city from Canada writes: Pliny the Elder from Canada writes: OK then. Let's nationalize all our oil reserves and refineries, subsidize Canadian purchasers and sell outside the country at a much higher price.

    troll alert
  20. Joe shoppin in the U.S from Canada writes: Canadians are fools........ I am speechless beyond that
  21. GlobeandMail Reader from Canada writes: What the **!

    Will the stupid government do anything about this?
  22. Ob Server from Canada writes: This has everyone spooked for sure because as I was on my way to HD at Downsview, the lineups at every gas station was 4 deep per pump.
  23. Richard Soley from writes: Well for those Green shifters think about your food, farmers, truckers, and then think about fourty below zero! The Liberal plan might work for the GTA but it forgets that there are folks who survive in places that are not serviced by public transport and shopping malls. If Dion gets his way it will be an economic disaster culminanting in wholesale departure from winter, food manufacturing, growing, industry expansion, and Canada will be green but deserted! As a side effect it pits the west against the east and at great cost!
  24. Joe shoppin in the U.S from Canada writes: Somewhere Somehow I am certain that there are some White collar criminals smoking a cigar laughing at all of this...
  25. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: Since the decline from $145 to $100 for oil our local price at the pump has gone down 2 cents and now is going UP 12.9 cents?? Here's Stephen Harpers chance to win by a landslide, force oil companies to DROP by 20 cents/litre.
  26. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Blow it out your ear McTeague.

    McTeague has been around (my government rep.... I never voted for him) Since 93.

    He served as the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Industry and the Chair of the Liberal Committee on Gasoline Pricing until the Conservatives got it.

    Over the years he never did anything about it.....

    Now he crows foul??? Man I hope my vote actually counts this year and you are gone.

    Cheers
  27. Kevin Desmoulin from Toronto, Canada writes: Why is it, with all our oil resources we paying this much for gas?
  28. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Soon as the Blue Jays finish off the White Sox... I'm driving down the street to top up about 40 litres into my Caddy STS....

    Gets about 9.4 litres per 100/km.... better that trucks and SUV's... but I have to drive to Ottawa next week.

    Cheers
  29. Harp Bassi from Hamilton, Canada writes: This is legalized theft. We live in a socialist country. If you want to talk about demand and supply. Then dont tax me 50 percent and I will sort out my own health care and what social services I want to pay for. But if you want to continue to tax me at that rate then do something about my disposable income especially gas. Stop taxing it or put in transparent accounting to all involved in the Oil/Gas community, so we can see how badly we are getting screwed and then the govn't can step in. I am all for captialism but this country is not set up that way. Where is the public transit in Canada? I would like to see every single dollar from Oil/Gas go to public transit and to subiside the cost of travelling on the GO or TTC and other local public transit. Not just a portion and the other portion go to fill the coffers of bloated govn't departments. Americans are talking of change, Canada needs Change as well!
  30. smelter rat from Canada writes: Blah, blah, blah.......Whatever.
  31. david duncan from Boundry, Canada writes: I cross the border to fuel up. That way I get cheaper gas and the greedy Canadian oils companies get nothing and neither does overtaxing revenue Canada! I agree don't buy gas tomorrow ... if you have to, go south.
  32. Cincinnatus C. from Toronto, Canada writes: So, we hear a lot lately about McTeague's predictions--has anyone bothered to track how accurate they are?

    As for supply and demand, the price of gasoline has never yet seriously tested the limits of demand--it keeps going up, and people keep buying just about as much of it as ever. It's funny how people sour on capitalism when it starts costing them money.
  33. Archie 1954 from Vancouver, Canada writes: Maybe it's time to give Harper and his corporation loving cronies the heave ho. I remember once before when the Conservative government under Clark decided to raise the price of gas by $0.18 per gallon. He and his government were turfed. I think its time to have history repeat itself.
  34. Trudeau's Apricot poodle from Canada writes: The Puffin Party, successors to the Rhinoceros have passed a motion that all persons convicted of the conspiracy pertaining to the unreasonable lowering of gas prices and the corresponding loss of federal revenue will be beaten with a guano covered plank from their platform. Fear this and tremblingly obey, you politicians you.
  35. Just try to convince me from Canada writes: I think that it's time to pull a Fidel or a Hugo.... Nationalize our oil industry and our pipelines and make them public trusts.

    Trudeau was on the right track but was 30 years ahead of the times.

    When gasoline is 3 cents a litre in Venezuela and a $1.30 here then there's clearly something terribly wrong.
  36. rick from river city from Canada writes: Kevin Desmoulin from Toronto, Canada writes: Why is it, with all our oil resources we paying this much for gas?

    because Retronto has no oil resources.
  37. David Horvath from edmonton, Canada writes: liberals started petrocanada to help set prices,now the first pumps to go up is liberal petrocanada
  38. Trudeau's Apricot poodle from Canada writes: Scot Loucks from Pickering, not bad at all, my Fleetwood gets about the same, better than the SUV, but can't tow the sail boat. What one must sacrifice for style, almost wish to be a liberal, no substance, but one can' t have everything.
  39. Nathan Cool from Vancouver, Canada writes: 'Soldiers in our streets and Liberals don't lie', if you were actually smart, you'd know that the carbon tax doesn't apply to gas.
  40. Harp Bassi from Hamilton, Canada writes: How else is the Harper govn't going to pay 8 billion new spending? We are going to face some hard times very soon, that includes you too Alberta.
  41. Art Vandelai from Burlington, Canada writes: The increase outpaces rises in wholesale costs by about a four-to-one ratio, Mr. McTeague says, and is disproportionate to pump price increases in the United States, where gas is about 20 cents a litre cheaper, on average.

    Uh, no...

    I'm not sure where Mr. McTeague is getting this info, but based on this article, we're getting off pretty light. Parts of the US are seeing a 30% jump. Since our gasoline distribution system is tied in with the US, we are affected by the same market forces.

    http://tinyurl.com/6doqvt

    What the news release dosen't mention...if the hurricane knocks out Houston refineries and pipeline distribution for any significant length of time, there will be shortages in the next 2-3 weeks. Repairs from Gustav have not been completed yet. Suggest you fill up the tank tonight.

    This is a temporary situation, but is likely to cause a lot of frustration for those whose lives remain dependent on gasoline.
  42. Kevin Desmoulin from Toronto, Canada writes: Come on guys this is issue for all Canadians, We have all this energy and resources, Oil resources, Why is it we pay so much for almost everything we have in abundance?
  43. Harp Bassi from Canada writes: Temporary? I remember Katrina happened and they said gas prices would come back down when all production was restored. I am still waiting. Gas prices only go in one direction. UP
  44. A W from Canada writes: This story is getting OLD fast..... Any excuse to raise the price of gas at the pumps!!!
    OH, it might rain tomorrow so we had better take some more money from the consumer!!
    Oh well... Nothing we can do about except complain anyways! Not until we come up with some other sort of fuel alternative.
  45. michael moore from toronto, Canada writes: We could just sit back and be cool until next week when the hurricane will have passed, the refineries will restart and the price will sag back to about where it is now. Or we could get into a tizzy and flock like lemmings to the nearest gas pump.
  46. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: Nathan Cool writes: 'the carbon tax doesn't apply to gas.'

    ................................................................

    Properly that should read 'the carbon tax wouldn't apply to gas.' That, because the carbon tax will not be imposed, at least not in THIS neck of the woods!
  47. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Archie 1954 from Vancouver, Canada writes: Maybe it's time to give Harper and his corporation loving cronies the heave ho. I remember once before when the Conservative government under Clark decided to raise the price of gas by $0.18 per gallon. He and his government were turfed. I think its time to have history repeat itself

    --------

    To funny Archie.... were you being facetious?

    Clark's government was defeated on that one....

    The Liberals proceeded to do exactly what Clark proposed... once elected..... not sure it was 18 cents though... course I am too lazy (and watching the ball game) to look it up right now. I believe the Liberals did exactly same with wage and price controls.

    Cheers
  48. Dr Demento from Canada writes: WTF - I thought oil prices have been falling . . .
  49. born a cynic from Canada writes: Isn't it ironic how the right winger accept gouching by the oil companies yet
    blow a fuse when the Government wants to add a tax ,which by the way raises money to finance social programs.
    And these flat earth types want to run this country? God help us all
  50. bert lats from Canada writes: Of course you idiots realize that april fools day has been moved to sept 12th.
  51. Art Vandelai from Burlington, Canada writes: um...do you people not understand...We're not talking about a little rain here.

    Nearly half of North America's gasoline supply is refined in the Gulf Coast. Power has been down in the New Orleans area around Port Fourchon for a week, and refineries are straining to come back online. We're barely capable of getting enough supply to market today. Now we have Ike hitting Texas, which will cause power outages and is taking more refining capacity out.

    Much of the gas we use is in transit from this area. If retailers can't get supply they'll have to pay someone else who has the gas - right away.

    Inelastic demand, vs. a large temporary decrease in supply = a very large spike in prices. Don't be surprised to see $2.00/litre by Thanksgiving, no matter what the price of oil happens to be.

    When Katrina hit, gas spiked from $.85 to $1.26. It did come down to below $.90 again after about 3 months. This situation is worse.
  52. Canada Rocks!! from Toronto, Canada writes: Mr. McTeague talks about the need for leadership, but as an MP (for how long??) what has he been able to accomplish? Where was the liberal party during their 13 year regime? Where's the effect of their leadership?
  53. whyte ave hobo edmonton from edmonton, Canada writes: liberals changed to metric and raised gas 35cents first year.worked pumping gas at the time,not socialism but dictatership . now dion wants to raise his friends earnings in the liberal hierarchy with a green tax that will further erode our lives
  54. wally cibulka from WEST, Canada writes: I'm missing something here. we are at $102 today (barrel) average in bc is around 1.41/liter. when we were at $102 - 105 per barrel, way back in March of 2008, we were paying around $1.09 give or take a cent or two. So how STUPID are we in Canada. We keep this complicated formula fed to us, and we enjoy it. Holly crap look at the profit and gravy this is being made. AND for these uneducated people who feel we drive to much etc. I'm sure you live in a city, but for the millions in this country who have 'NO' access to transit or car pools what is your suggestion now. Rural areas live and work with vehicles, and are the life line for putting bread on the table. there are a lot more choices in the cities, but the majority of us have no choice. Remember, If prices of delivering your milk and bread will really rise if fuel goes high, and then what. you don't see it just yet, but wait. there's a bigger picture here, and this country will fall if these prices keeping going up. The bottom line is that in remote or semi remote areas we need vehicles, they are a need to have not a nice to have.
    sincerely.
  55. J R from Canada writes: higher gas prices are a good thing if they get people into public transit. unfortunately public transit isnt a viable option everywhere. canada and canadians really need to get it together on better public transportation and fast. the current use of the private car to do everything including 400m trips to the corner store has to stop (not only for the sake of the environment, but personal finances and personal health as well).
  56. Billy Bob from Saskatchewan from Canada writes: Well for those complaining about the Green shift. I would rather see a 0.07$ a liter hit that goes to government coffers than 0.129$ a liter over night hit that goes to Oil companies any day of the week.

    If someone was smart they would find a way to restrict price increases at the pumps by retailers ie, make them announce 48 hours in advance before implementing and more.

    That would really get the Canadian vote.
  57. Deeply concerned citizen from Canada writes: People will buy it all up tonight, thus further driving up the demand..hellooooo. Instead, don't buy gas, sit your a$$es at home, take the kids for a bike ride, whatever. The only way to get back at these guys is to play them at the same game -supply and demand. if there is no demand, the price will go down. I may be being a tad naive but I refuse to be cynical about this and so should you.
  58. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Canada Rocks!! from Toronto, Canada writes: Mr. McTeague talks about the need for leadership, but as an MP (for how long??) what has he been able to accomplish? Where was the liberal party during their 13 year regime? Where's the effect of their leadership?

    --------------------

    Since 1993.. and he was the Chair of the Liberal Committee on Gasoline Pricing .... until the Conservatives finally won an election.

    He did nothing about lowering taxes on gasoline... he did nothing period.... and now he has the nerve to cry foul on the current government.

    Imagine what if would cost if GST was still 7 percent... (add 2 percent more per litre).

    Cheers
  59. P B from Vancouver BC, Canada writes: Did the Fiberals confound us all and suddenly impose the Green Shaft?!

    Seriously, this is all about greed - pure and simple!
  60. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: J R from Canada writes: higher gas prices are a good thing if they get people into public transit. unfortunately public transit isnt a viable option everywhere.

    ------

    Exactly J R.

    I have a meeting in Mississauga next Tuesday at 5:00pm.
    I have a meeting in Ottawa next Wednesday at 9:00am
    I have a charity golf tournament on Thursday (east of Uxbridge) at 1:15pm.

    Any suggestions on how I do that without a car?

    Cheers
  61. Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: Haha biggest increase in history, but a distant second to what would happen if we elected dion with all his green shafting.
  62. Art Vandelai from Burlington, Canada writes: Canada Rocks!! from Toronto, Canada writes: Mr. McTeague talks about the need for leadership, but as an MP (for how long??) what has he been able to accomplish? Where was the liberal party during their 13 year regime? Where's the effect of their leadership?

    Neither party has shown any leadership or been honest with Canadians about energy.

    We do not have a national strategy for ensuring that gasoline supplies are maintained near our population centres. We don't have a Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Canada. Neither Liberals nor Conservatives have talked about these issues. Liberals with their meager 1% tax shift idea have at least put some thought into providing incentives for the Canadian public to think about their consumption, but it's a very minor change that will only marginally affect consumer habits compared with what the market will do.

    We cannot go on consuming fuels like we do today. Not only because of carbon emissions/global warming, but because of the reality of the supply situation. Today's cheap oil will not last forever. We will definitely go broke if we spend all of our resources trying to maintain it.

    Liberals know this, and are trying to take a small step towards encouraging us to conserve more.

    Conservatives know this and have said screw it, people don't like paying more, so to heck with the future, we'll just keep the party going.
  63. Grampa Canuck from Stirling, ON, Canada writes: When we have a Prime Minister who sees maximizing the cash flow of Big Oil as among the greatest of good, you will always have high-priced gas. And, there will never be meaningful (repeat 'meaningful') support for moving off of a carbon-based economy.

    During the last U.S. election the U.S. Big Oil companies decreased their refinery margin in order to lower the price of gas. This, of course, was in support of the Cheney/Bush presidency. So, we can expect nefariousness of one form or another out of these guys.
  64. snow lander from Edmonton, Canada writes: stop whining about gas prices already. don't like the price? don't use gas and the price will drop.

    meetings in far away places will be a thing of the past.

    (and as for golf well you apparently have way too much time on your hands. : D )
  65. Rick Jones from The Rock, Canada writes: Art Vandelai from Burlington:

    If we didn't export, we'd be more than self-sufficient, with still a surplus to sell. We just export more than we need domestically.

    And last I checked, we imported no oil from the US - at least a statistical 'nothing'. Venezuela was our largest source of imported oil at around 6 or 7%.

    They say the price goes up because we tie our price to world markets, but as other posters have noted, retail price cycles in Canada don't seem to directly correspond to that in other countries.
  66. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Art Vandelai from Burlington.

    Read my posts.... McTeague is my rep (not by choice).

    Since 1993.. and he was the Chair of the Liberal Committee on Gasoline Pricing .... until the Conservatives finally won an election.

    What did he and his liberal buddies do about gasoline prices?

    As I said before ... at least the add on GST is only 5 percent.

    Cheers
  67. Ted S from Canada writes: how does he know? who told him? Also, does he happen to know the winning super 7 numbers for tomorrow and the teams and final score in the superbowl next February? I mean, maybe he's a psychic or something?
  68. Art Vandelai from Burlington, Canada writes: Rick Jones from The Rock, Canada writes: And last I checked, we imported no oil from the US - at least a statistical 'nothing'. Venezuela was our largest source of imported oil at around 6 or 7%.

    Maybe that's zero on a net basis. We supply oil to the US from Alberta, and we import from the US in Eastern Canada.

    Anyhow, my reference on imports was to gasoline, not oil, as all the complaining in here is about gasoline prices, not oil prices. Two completely different commodities. We do not refine all of our gasoline here in Canada, and our gasoline distribution system is tied in with the US system. If we had cheaper gas, American retailers would buy it all, leaving Canada's tank empty.
  69. Mickey Hickey from Toronto, Canada writes: In Richmond Hill Ontario at 1000 PM Sept 11th Reg. gas is 123.7 to 123.9. The oil companies tell the politicians what to do not the other way round. It doesn't matter what stripe, the politicians are helpless under NAFTA. Where is Trudeau now when we need him.
  70. Art Vandelai from Burlington, Canada writes: Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: What did he and his liberal buddies do about gasoline prices?

    As I said before ... at least the add on GST is only 5 percent.

    Firstly, what did you do about gasoline prices? Surely (if you are a conservative) you don't expect government to give you a subsidy.

    Instead of removing those 2 points of GST, we could have made cuts to income and business taxes that would have been better for all Canadians instead of just those who buy taxable stuff.
  71. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: snow lander from Edmonton.......... I assume based on the golf comment that you are talking to me :)

    I agree that long range meetings will be a thing of the past. I am a consultant in IT.

    That and working from home via technology is far more viable than building a better public transit infrastructure.

    The only reason I am up for this face to face on Wednesday in Ottawa is because we are talking big bucks and a face to face is required.

    I just don't like McTeague..... and his hypocritical stance on this one.

    Anyway.... watching the Jays kick butt now....

    Cheers
  72. Joe shoppin in the U.S from Canada writes: Wait wait......a Gas Price Hike before the Hurricane even hits?...........Hahahahaha what next? Supply and what ? Blah Blah Blah.......Racketeering at its finest
  73. Roop Misir from Toronto, Canada writes: So they raise the price in ANTICIPATION of hurricanes?
  74. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: 'Where is Trudeau now when we need him.'

    Thankfully he is in a better place and not here doing any more damage.
  75. Anton Norbert from Brampton, Canada writes: Hurrah for the free market economy. The consumer has a choice ( according to the Govt ). No intervention is required ( according to the Govt ).
  76. Art Vandelai from Burlington, Canada writes: Roop Misir from Toronto, Canada writes: So they raise the price in ANTICIPATION of hurricanes?

    Why not? They close down the refineries in anticipation of hurricanes. It's kind of hard to operate when all your workers are evacuating.
  77. john may from writes: From : Reuters Business Sept 11 2008 -
    ' Hurricane Ike is expected to sidestep most U.S. offshore facilities before slamming into the Texas coast, which has a heavy concentration of U.S. refineries, on Saturday.

    Oil companies have shut nearly 7 percent of U.S. refining capacity and 25 percent of total U.S. oil production ahead of the storm.

    Hurricanes Gustav and Ike have resulted in 15.2 million barrels of lost production from the shutdown of U.S. refineries, according to U.S. government data.

    Gasoline stocks are at their lowest level since 2000, a U.S. government weekly inventory report showed on Wednesday. '
    It may also surprise many people that middle distillates i.e, heating oil,diesel,aviation fuel, is being shipped into Easter N America from the Far East and charter rates for tankers carrying refined products are sharply higher, by a factor of almost 3, from 2 months ago. Also, Russian crude production this year has declined when it was expected to rise.
    Trading in gasoline and heating oil futures today also saw sharp price rises.
    McTeague is a one trick pony. He knows, or should know, what is happening in the very volatile oil trading markets. Just another cheap suit looking for votes.
  78. Art Vandelai from Burlington, Canada writes: Roop Misir from Toronto, Canada writes: So they raise the price in ANTICIPATION of hurricanes?

    Why not? They shut down the refineries in anticipation of hurricanes. It's kind of hard to operate one if all of the workers have been evacuated.
  79. J F from VC, Canada writes: Wow.... uhhh, can someone on this neat little board explain to me the correlation between getting screwed over by gas companies that are out the rip us all off, and the green shift plan?

    Is it because gas would go up 1 or 2 cents with the green shift? Cause I dunno how to break it to you little con bots, but the cons have a carbon plan too! It works out to about 15 bucks MORE A TONNE than the Liberal plan. Gee, I WONDER if that would cause gas prices to rise as well? Hmmmm.

    You people are mind boggling. The idea to shift taxes from our income to our polluting ways and gas companies ripping us all off.

    Yup, how could I miss the obvious. You cons are just too smrt for me!
  80. Adrian Parsons from White Rock, Canada writes: What would McTeague do if he were in power? We had wage and price controls during the Trudeau Liberal years (after he said he would never do that) and what good did that do ?
  81. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Art Vandelai from Burlington writes:

    Instead of removing those 2 points of GST, we could have made cuts to income and business taxes that would have been better for all Canadians instead of just those who buy taxable stuff

    ------

    Not sure where you are coming from there Art.

    Gasoline prices effect everyone... with or without a car.

    If you don't have a car you take transit or a cab..... that effects you.

    Food comes in by truck.... that effects you.

    If anything is left that we manufacture in Ontario..... gasoline prices effect the delivery cost of any components involved in the manufacturing process.

    The current government has cut both corporate taxes and personal taxes..... as well as the consumption (GST) tax.

    Please explain your complaint.

    Cheers.
  82. Alexander Slimnich from Canada writes: To paraphrase Michael Ignatieff:
    We didn't get it done, Dan.

    While I completely agree with Mr. McTeague that oil companies rip us off.. it's cynical to suggest that Stephen Harper is at fault. The same tactics went on during Liberal governments, and Mr. Chretien and Mr. Martin took no meaningful action, either.
  83. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: Art Vandelai from Burlington, Canada writes: 'Instead of removing those 2 points of GST, we could have made cuts to income and business taxes that would have been better for all Canadians instead of just those who buy taxable stuff.'

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    You couldn't be more wrong Art. Our income is below the tax level so we pay no tax. 2% less to pay on taxable good AND SERVICES represents several hundred dollars in our pocket.

    Your next vehicle purchase of $40,000 is $800 less because of that 'little' reduction. The drop in GST benefits EVERYONE.
  84. john may from writes: See all those cars and trucks driving north out of Houston ? Are they burning gasoline or diesel or the new wonder fuel ' McTeague Hor Air'.
    Drive less, save money.
    Drive slower, save money.
    Plan your trips, save money.
    Use your brain, save money.
  85. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: 'Where is Trudeau now when we need him.'

    Thankfully he is in a better place and not here doing any more damage.

    ----

    here here.... I will cheer for your Riders again if my Argos have an early death.... I'm liking you.

    Cheers.
  86. B Lam from Canada writes: Charge us $10 a litre, we still have to pay.
  87. Andrew E from Canada writes: GlobeandMail Reader from Canada writes: What the **!

    Will the stupid government do anything about this?

    >> er, Parliament has been dissolved, we're in an election. Does anybody know if the gov't CAN do anything? I'm thinking not.
  88. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: john may from writes: See all those cars and trucks driving north out of Houston ? Are they burning gasoline or diesel or the new wonder fuel ' McTeague Hor Air'.
    Drive less, save money.
    Drive slower, save money.
    Plan your trips, save money.
    Use your brain, save money.
    ------

    Good post John may.

    I use my cruise control (low mileage 96 caddy... STS) more than ever.

    Did a 180km trek to a cottage last weekend.
    100km limit... cruise control at 115km
    80km limit.. cruise control at 95km

    Used the serious engine power two or three times to pass idiots and still averaged below 9 litres per 100km.

    Take my bicycle to the corner store.... even in the winter
    Pick up everything I need when I pick my daughter up from work.... one circle.

    -----

    Great post john... but probably a little hard for most of the posters to understand.

    Cheers
  89. Derek Holtom from Swan River (only cowards use fake names on here), Canada writes: James Hurstle from Victoria, Canada writes: Good news! Should be jumping higher. Stop driving and polluting our environment.
    ---
    I'll take the mass transit in rural MB first thing tomorrow
  90. john may from writes: Forgot to write ;
    Engage brain before the gears.
  91. John Keller from Calgary, Canada writes: Oil has dropped from $144.00 per barrel to $100.00 .

    When oil was $100.00 per barrel the price per liter was
    $ 1.06 . yet today it still sits at $1.28 per liter in Calgary.

    Now we are told that it will rise another 10 to 15 cents per liter.

    This means the in six months gas went from 1.06 per liter to 1.40 per liter at todays costs per barrel, an increase of 33% due to pure profits.

    Just plain gauging, is MR. Harper going to do something about this.
  92. Sam I. AM from St. Louis, MO, United States writes: Wow...our prices have been dropping...we're down to 3.38 a gallon.
  93. Mike McFae from Canada writes: This price spike is outrageous. Who do the oil executives think they are - Liberals ?
  94. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: John Keller from Calgary...

    Parliament is dissolved... there is nothing Harper can do about it.

    Ask yourself what McTeague as Chair of the Liberal Committee on Gasoline Pricing did about it for the last 10 plus years.... except position himself to complain about the next government.

    Not that a Liberal in Calgary is worth convincing anyway.... like your vote counts ... lol

    Chees
  95. john may from writes: John Keller: - the price of gasoline depends on its availability not just the cost of crude.
    I bought regular gas at $1.49 a litre last year when oil was a heck of a lot less than $100. Heating oil spiked higher several months ago after the Chinese earthquake resulted in a massive demand for diesel for emergency generators. Any interupption in supply of a basic product will result in a higher price. Simple economics.
    Here is a freebie for you, the cost of shipping coal is equal to the cost of the coal and shipowners carrying that coal are making a fortune. Shipowners carrying iron ore are also making a fortune but not as much as those carrying coal. Funny old world eh ?
    Google 'cost of iron ore' and see how well the mines in NW Australia are doing, the workers out there are making fabulous amounts of money. Supply and demand.
  96. Vincent D from Canada writes: Why are we STILL sitting around, being slaves to the oil companies and complaining about oil prices? Lets face it, we're junkies... we're hooked on the stuff. Junkies need to get off or die. Pretty good analogy actually.

    Why are we not demanding electric cars like the Tesla Roadster? A pure electric car that is faster (and cheaper) then a Porsche 911 Turbo, gets 135mpg, goes 350km and costs $15 to charge!?!?! What are we, idiots? We need to be thinking long term here people. Drilling for more oil isn't going to help us out long term.

    And to the people who are saying this and that about the Green Shift plan, back up what you're saying. You can't just come here and saying like Harper, it's risky, it's gunna do this to the environment. Back up your arguments or shut up. Cause i got news for you. Economists much smarter then you, I or Harper are saying it's the way to and will create green jobs. No offense, but i believe professionals who have the experience over lay people.

    We need someone who is going to give us a solution to a tough problem. Harper has zero long term solution for the environment. At least Dion has a plan that will be able to sustain us long term. Which is more then Harper has.
  97. Art Vandelai from Burlington, Canada writes: Not sure where you are coming from there Art.

    Gasoline prices effect everyone... with or without a car.
    But not everyone to the same extent...if we reduce gas taxes, those who consume more gas benefit more. That money has to come from somewhere...other tax revenues or increased debt which hurts everyone. There is no free lunch.

    When continued progress of our society requires that eventually we have to learn how to consume less, why would we want those who consume more to get most of the benefits? Doesn't make sense.

    The current government has cut both corporate taxes and personal taxes..... as well as the consumption (GST) tax.
    They cut personal income taxes after cancelling Paul Martin's cuts. PM announced lowest personal tax rate of 15%, we are now paying 15%.

    They could have cut income tax further had they not cut GST instead.
  98. john may from writes: I should stop writing all this economics stuff or the Globe will be asking where I get all this information, obviously they are having problems explaining the world.
    Do the ROB writers talk to the political writers ?
    Can Dan McTeague read a basic economics textbook ?
    Can Dan McTeague tell his constituents where the oil refineries are in Canada ?
  99. gene eng from Markham, Canada writes: Some facts: PetroCanada was created by the Liberal Govt, but has since been 100% privatized. Also, all crude supplying Canada east of Manitoba is imported and Alberta's oil is mostly shipped south. Gasoline retail prices are determined by what the market can bear - and guess what, it is a monopoly and most consumers have little choice.
  100. Right Action from Canada writes: Does Mr Harper,
    does Mr Layton
    or Mr Dion care.
    All that matters is votes. None of them has the guts to stand up. Oligarchy rules!!!!!
  101. Chris Haines from Vancouver, writes: This guy is such a hypocrite. He says the government is not doing enough to stop higher gas prices, yet he belongs to a party that says saving the environment is their big priority. Wake up jack@$$. The only way to reduce the carbon footprint of Canadians is to get them to drive less. How do you get them to drive less? Raise gas prices.

    I really don't care if you are Green, Conservative, Liberal or NDP (I don't like any political parties, but that's beside the point.) Just don't be a hypocrite. If you think global warming is a huge issue and want to reduce greenhouse gases, then your platform should be to triple the current price of gas, at least for individual consumers. I guarantee you that will get people on buses and bikes. Will it be unpopular? Probably, but don't tell me that 'Canadians want to save the environment' if none of them are willing to pay for it.
  102. Vincent D from Canada writes: Do the neo-Con sheep not recognize the correlation between climate change, hurricanes and gas prices?

    Let me help you out...

    We guzzle gas-> CO2 makes the world hotter-> More and stronger hurricanes -> Gas prices go up!

    Hmmmmmm.... it seems to me we need to look at the root cause of the problem. But conservatives are never good at looking at that type of stuff... what do scientists, experts and our own eyes know...
  103. Art Vandelai from Burlington, Canada writes: S