Energy prices are driving up the cost of living across the country and in Manitoba, as Canadians feel the pinch every time they fill up. Crystal Hoffman felt that pain at the pump Monday, with gas prices at some Winnipeg stations hitting 171.9 cents a litre. “Ridiculous as usual, makes things hard in the summer to go do, you know get out more, get farther out of the city,” said Hoffman. She said the rising cost of fuel means cutting back elsewhere just to make ends meet. “Food is a big one, especially when you got, you know, with work and stuff like you got to balance a lot of things,” she said. The cost of fuel is a big driver behind the latest inflation figures from Statistics Canada. Inflation rose three per cent year over year nationally in July, and even higher in several provinces, including Manitoba, where it climbed 4.2 per cent year over year — up from four per cent in June. “What we’re seeing in Manitoba is similar to what we’re seeing in Saskatchewan and Alberta, so sort of a western trend if you will,” said Manitoba Finance Minister Adrien Sala. Statistics Canada says gas prices surged 25.7 per cent year over year nationally in July, up from 20.5 per cent in June, a spike attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “Incomes are going down right now and prices are going up, I don’t know what to do,” said one driver. Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and others are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to extend the federal gas and diesel tax cut, which is set to expire on Labour Day. CTV News asked Sala whether the province is considering another provincial gas tax holiday. “We’re going to keep listening to Manitobans and of course doing the work of lowering costs with all those tools we have at our disposal,” Sala said. Statistics Canada pointed to other factors pushing inflation higher across the country. Food prices have eased but remain above the national inflation rate, while travel costs climbed in July as hotel and transportation prices rose amid the World Cup. In Manitoba, food inflation dropped to 3.2 per cent in July from five per cent in June — a decline Sala credited to the province’s PST cut on groceries, which took effect July 1. “This is exciting news because this is the first data that’s come out since our PST elimination on food in Manitoba,” Sala said.
