Doug Ford calls 14 cent overnight jump in gas prices in Ontario 'disgusting'
Premier Doug Ford is raising concerns about price-gouging at Ontario gas stations, calling a surge in prices overnight "disgusting."
Gas prices jumped an average of 14 cents per litre overnight in the GTA, climbing to levels not seen in nearly two years as the switch from winter fuel to a more expensive summer blend pushes up the price at the pumps.
Gas prices for most of Ontario now sit at around 179.9 cents a litre.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“It is disgusting what the oil companies are doing. They are saying we have to upgrade the gas in the summer,” Ford said while answering questions at an unrelated news conference in Oakville on Thursday morning.
“Do you let your tanks at the gas stations drain and do you have these tankers come up… to put the fresh gas in or you using the old gas and charging the higher cost?”
He said after reaching out to friends in the U.S., he discovered that the price of gas has not similarly increased in Chicago and Minnesota.
“Either you are putting the fresh stuff in last month or you are gouging the people right now,” Ford reiterated.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at fuel savings website GasBuddy in Chicago, told CTV News on Wednesday that the increase is happening now in the eastern parts of Canada.
"Some gas stations have already raised their price, in essence, but some others may not for the next day or two," De Haan said. "So over the next several days, the averages will continue to rise as more stations raise their price.”
Dan McTeague, the president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, told CP24 on Thursday that in past years, that switchover from winter to summer fuel typically results in an increase of about six to 10 cents per litre.
“In warmer (weather)… refiners are required by law to change the blend of gasoline to introduce things that become less volatile. The most important ingredient is alkylates and alkylates are extremely expensive,” he said. “The cost of that product has really skyrocketed.”
McTeague said the good news is there will be a five cents per litre drop at the pumps by Friday.
While 179.9 cents per litre may be the highest price motorists have seen in quite some time, it is well short of the record high, which McTeague said was set on June 11, 2022 when the price of gas hit 215 cents per litre.
Gas prices typically remain elevated during the summer months but come back down again in mid-September when the cheaper winter fuel blend returns, McTeague said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberal MP says she's leaving politics over disrespectful dialogue, threats, misogyny
Liberal MP Pam Damoff says she won't run again in the next federal election, saying she has experienced misogyny, disrespectful dialogue in politics and threats to her life.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Ont. woman who faked pregnancy to defraud doulas arrested again on similar charges
Victims of a Brantford, Ont., woman who was sentenced to house arrest earlier this year for defrauding and deceiving doulas say they’re not surprised she’s been apprehended again on similar charges.
Eating disorders among youth skyrocketed during pandemic and so did associated costs, report finds
The number of young people experiencing eating disorders surged during the height of the pandemic as the social and economic costs skyrocketed too, a new pan-Canadian report has found.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.