B.C. gasoline prices are still higher than other parts of the country, Premier John Horgan says, and he intends to ask Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to help find out why.
Horgan was asked about gasoline prices Tuesday, after the B.C. Utilities Commission released a on its investigation into the province香蕉视频直播檚 motor fuel market. That report, by independent experts who regulate electrical and natural gas utilities and ICBC, continues to describe an 香蕉视频直播渦nexplained difference of 10 to 13 cents per litre香蕉视频直播� for gasoline.
The commission said the extension to allow more submissions from fuel companies after last summer香蕉视频直播檚 hearings didn香蕉视频直播檛 resolve the reason for pump prices running higher than neighbouring Alberta and Washington state, and there still hadn香蕉视频直播檛 been time to drill down into the dynamics of wholesale sources.
Gasoline prices in B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 Lower Mainland dropped sharply last week, and by Tuesday pump prices in Surrey were hovering around $1.40 per litre according to monitoring service GasBuddy.com.
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Horgan said the utilities commission was the appropriate first step in seeking answers. It was prevented from examining taxes, environmental regulations or other B.C. government actions that may contribute to higher prices. If the B.C. commission has done all it can, Horgan said Ottawa香蕉视频直播檚 watchdog, , has the legal tools to protect consumers.
香蕉视频直播淸The BCUC] did that in the summer, and it highlighted about a 13 cent-a-litre increase, or a gouge, on local drivers, which translates into hundreds of millions of dollars and more, out of the pockets of the travelling public of the Lower Mainland and British Columbia versus other locations,香蕉视频直播� Horgan said at an event in Richmond Tuesday.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 going to reinforce this [gasoline price gap] with the prime minister when I meet with him,香蕉视频直播� Horgan said. 香蕉视频直播淭he federal government has an ability to look at competition in markets. Clearly there香蕉视频直播檚 something wrong with the gas market in British Columbia, and we want to get to the bottom of that.香蕉视频直播�
Trudeau is meeting premiers as he prepares to announce the cabinet for his minority government. He met Tuesday with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, one of four premiers who are challenging the Liberal government香蕉视频直播檚 national carbon tax as an intrusion into provincial jurisdiction over natural resource production.
Horgan said his government will be presenting its own proposed solution in the B.C. legislature, which resumes sitting next week until the end of November. And he hinted that his meeting with Trudeau will continue to press the B.C. NDP香蕉视频直播檚 opposition to expanding the Trans Mountain oil pipeline as it resumes construction.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not just about supply, although we need more gasoline,香蕉视频直播� Horgan said. 香蕉视频直播淲e need less diluted bitumen. That won香蕉视频直播檛 move your automobile, but gasoline will, and we only have the one refinery in Burnaby.香蕉视频直播�
B.C. also has a second refinery in Prince George that processes natural gas liquids into motor fuels.
The B.C. Liberal opposition resumed its political battle over gasoline prices, which has included 香蕉视频直播淏lame John Horgan香蕉视频直播� billboards placed for viewing by Metro Vancouver commuters.
B.C. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson issued a statement saying the NDP government 香蕉视频直播渞igged香蕉视频直播� the BCUC review to avoid looking at its own policies, such as opposing the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline that brings refined fuel as well as crude oil from Alberta to B.C.
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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