Prices at the pump continue to rise in Sask.
Saskatchewan residents may have noticed a peak in gas prices over the past week.
Dan McTeague, president of Canada for Affordable Energy said that’s a common trend across the country right now.
“We’re going to move from where we were a few weeks ago $1.40’s to $1.50’s now to the $1.70’s and likely to move up another 5 to 10 cents a litre over the next several days here in Regina and pretty much across the province,” he said.
McTeague said this trend in the prairies is a direct correlation to what is happening in Midwestern America, with two Chicago spot market refineries having issues over the past couple weeks.
“[This] has a direct bearing on the price we pay here in the prairies. Gas prices in the United States and wholesale prices moved up approximately a dollar a gallon, good for about a 37 cent a litre increase, which explains why we’re probably marching to a $1.90 to $1.95 a litre.”
The prices seen in parts of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northwestern Ontario up to Thunder Bay are all impacted by the midwest, while places like southern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes are impacted by the eastern United States.
Vancouver has it worse though, setting a record high this past weekend of $2.41.9 cents a litre.
The lower mainland and Vancouver Island are influenced by the Pacific Northwest United States where there are shortages, refineries are running into issues, and on top of that, Vancouver has extraordinarily high taxes on fuel.
However, while Alberta currently sits with the lowest prices in the country, McTeague had a warning for the province.
“Alberta is going to have to be careful because they are going to get a significant shock as it is costing most gas stations there $1.66 to buy their fuel. In Edmonton and Calgary, it’s pretty clear $1.56 means they may be in for a 20 cent a litre shock.”
McTeague added that these prices are going to be staying around a while, predicting Wednesday’s increases will be felt at the pumps.
His website, Gas Wizard, reports daily predictions of gas prices throughout the country.
However, some gas stations in Regina are going above and beyond his predictions.
Residents lined up at the discount gas station on Saskatchewan Drive early afternoon on Tuesday, because some Shell locations across the city posted signs of $1.85 a litre.
“I saw that, that’s why I’m here,” Barry Ferguson told CTV News.
The discount station itself saw a jump, though not quite to the same extent.
“It’s crazy because it was $1.58 here this morning and now it's $1.68,” said Ron Sonan.
“It is cheaper than going to a regular service station,” added Ferguson.
Though residents lined up at the pump, those who spoke to CTV said there’s not much that can be done at this time, but that they don’t see a need to take the same approach as Ontario or Alberta with gas tax cuts.
“Well I’m not really sure how much that’s going to help, it’s just a temporary thing anyway. I know they are having troubles with the refineries,” said Albert Biro.
More than the refineries, McTeague stressed that inflation continues to strain the pockets of Canadians, especially since gas is bought in US dollars.
“Because we are no longer the petro dollar, doesn’t matter if you’re in Saskatchewan, or Ontario or Newfoundland, you’re paying an extra 40 cents a litre because the Canadian dollar no longer protects consumers quite the way it used to.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.