Ottawa gas prices to increase again this week

Motorists fill up at an Ottawa gas station. (Tyler Fleming/CTV News Ottawa)

The cost of filling up your gas tank will continue to rise above $1.70 a litre this week.

Canadians for Affordable Energy president Dan McTeague says gas prices are expected to increase 3 cents a litre on Thursday to an average of $173.9 cents in Ottawa.

Gas prices had dropped one cent a litre on Wednesday.

The cost of gas has increased over the past two weeks amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, the channel where about a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through between Iran and Oman, has effectively been closed amid the war.

Motorists were paying approximately $1.37 a litre for gas on March 2. According to Gasbuddy.com, gas was $1.29 a litre on Feb. 28.

City Services

The rising cost of gas could hit the Ottawa Police Service’s budget.

A spokesperson said the 2026 Ottawa Police budget used $1.42 a litre to build the budget.

The City of Ottawa’s chief financial officer said the city hedges diesel fuel prices for OC Transpo and city services.

“To manage fuel price volatility and protect taxpayers, the City of Ottawa has a long‑standing practice of hedging diesel fuel, which helps reduce market risk and provide budget stability,” Cyril Rogers, general manager and chief financial officer, told CTV News Ottawa on March 9.

“The City’s total fuel budget for 2026, including the Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Public Library and Ottawa Public Health, is $46.4 million, with OC Transpo accounting for $37.6 million. While fuel markets can experience short‑term volatility, the City’s hedging program helps insulate the 2026 budget from these fluctuations, as staff continue to monitor market conditions closely.”

With files from CTV News Toronto’s Alex Arsenych and CTV News Ottawa’s Austin Lee .

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