Ottawa drivers will again be paying a bit more at the pumps with gas prices set to climb ahead of the weekend. Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, says gas prices are set to rise by eight cents per litre on Friday, pushing the average price back above $1.80/L in the capital. Prices had dropped below $1.70/L last week after the federal government suspended the fuel excise tax for the summer; however, with the turmoil in the Straight of Hormuz ongoing, prices continue to fluctuate. McTeague told Toronto’s Newstalk 1010 on Thursday that supply gaps can only be resolved by higher prices until the matter in the Middle East is resolved. The U.S. is blockading Iranian ports while Iran keeps the Straight of Hormuz closed. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran to “get smart soon” and sign a deal to end the conflict.
