If you did not fill up the tank on Monday, you’re most likely paying for it now as gas prices spiked across the province with the average price of gas on Tuesday morning in Barrie $1.80 per litre. Drivers CTV News Barrie spoke with said they are feeling the pinch with the price of gas. “I was going to fill up yesterday hoping it would maybe come down today and it didn’t. So yeah, definitely feeling the pinch,” said one driver. “I try to be smart and go to where they’re cheapest but over the summer, it’s been a crazy increase.” According to Gas Wizard, this time last year saw regular fuel going for $1.34 a litre. According to vice president of the Canadian Fuels Association Carol Montreuil, international conflicts are the main reasons prices continue to surge. “This is not an Ontario issue, this is not a Canadian issue, this is a worldwide issues as we speak,” said Montreuil. “I mean, many countries are rationing petroleum products and what we’re seeing at the pump across Canada now is really an outcome of of this crisis.” The surging price of fuel leaving no industry left untouched. “Diesel is important in all other sectors, including agriculture, transportation, whether it’s trucks, marine planes, people use diesel or jet fuels,” said Montreuil. “So we can expect that these higher prices that we’re seeing now around the world eventually will have an impact on inflation, on everything we pay for.” With colder weather on the way, winter gas blend will soon be used but the sharp increases means those savings will be obsolete. “When we shift to winter gasoline, because we’re able to put cheaper components in the gasoline that typically as an impact of really a few pennies, nothing compared to the sharp increases we’ve seen over the last year,” said Montreuil. Leaving Canadians to make difficult decisions. “Like it’s starting to hit everybody. It doesn’t matter who you are going to feel it unless you got billions,” said a driver" “I live on a pension, like it always hurts the wallet, but you’ve got to pay it,” said another driver. “So you just find savings someplace else, you know?” CTV News Barrie reached out to the Federal Government to find out if they plan on extending the excise tax cut as it is set to expire next week. Press Secretary for the Minister of Finance and National Revenue John Fragos said: “The government’s priority has been and remains making everyday life more affordable and steeling the Canadian economy to global shocks. To do this, we’ve pursued and actioned a bold and collaborative economic plan rooted in long term growth, sustained competitiveness, strong domestic sectors and making Canadians more prosperous.” He added the government introduced the Canada Groceries & Essentials Benefit. “Easing the price at the pump by up to 20 cents a litre by permanently removing the controversial consumer carbon tax, providing a transfer to the tune of $1.7 billion to provinces and territories to support housing supply challenges,” said Fragos. In the quote the government did not confirm or deny if they plan on extending the excise tax cut which ends on September 8.
