Discussions

I know this topic comes up all too often, and nothing is ever done about it. And I hate that we seem to always default to some position that always has the same answer, but my intention here is simply to draw attention to the extremely high cost of fuel in Manitoba, and to point out that the cost of fuel is much different in areas outside the province.  
 
A review of Gasbuddy.com will illustrate just how much Manitobans are getting gouged by the gas companies in the province, and once again particularly in Brandon.  
 
GAS PRICES IN BRANDON ARE ABOUT 40 CENTS PER LITRE HIGHER THAN THEY NEED TO BE. INSTEAD OF BRANDON RESIDENTS PAYING $1.60 PER LITRE, MARKET CONDITIONS SUGGEST WE SHOULD BE PAYING CLOSER TO $1.20.  
 
By comparison, gas prices in Alberta these days are about $1.219 per litre (which you can find at Gasbuddy.com).  
 
Also by comparison, low end gas prices in Fargo, North Dakota is about $3.39 USD per US gallon (= $3.78 litres). Converted into Canadian dollars, this equates to $1.19 Canadian per litre, which is on part with what prices are in Alberta.  
 
Not only are Manitobans expected to pay the much increased cost for fuel at the pump ($1.60 per litre) but they are passed on these costs through everything that they buy through INFLATION of goods that they purchase when they buy food or other goods.  
 
This is a challenge to Brandon's gas stations. Can you please EXPLAIN WHY IT COSTS US AN ADDITIONAL 40 CENTS PER LITRE OF FUEL, OVER AND ABOVE WHAT OTHER CANADIANS AND AMERICANS ARE PAYING AROUND US?  
 
An extra 40 cents at the pump, is $1.60 / $1.20 = 33% MORE FOR FUEL AND FOOD AND GOODS AND SERVICES THAT WE ARE BEING EXPECTED TO PAY, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO LOGIC AROUND THIS DISCREPANCY, EXCEPT THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE GOUGED BY THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, WHICH SEEMS TO BE ENDORSED BY BOTH FEDERAL AND MANITOBA GOVERNMENTS!!!  
 
Manitoban's are struggling to pay bills and put food on the table. INFLATION seems to be related to the extremely high cost of fuel, which increases the costs of transport of people and food and other goods and services.  
 
What say you, Premier Heather Stefanson, MLA's Reg Helwer and Len Isleifson, and MP Larry Maguire !?!  
 
It's time we start to get some answers!!!

Albert’s chose to forgo their fuel tax while oil and fuel prices were so high. So that’s part of why fuel is currently cheaper in Alberta.

Trevor, there is a difference of 40 cents per litre here in Manitoba!!! The fuel tax in Alberta was only 13 cents per litre. What about the difference?  
 
I read comments here about Manitoba families struggling to pay for groceries, heating and transportation costs.  
 
A 33% increase in the cost of fuel amounts to a savings of $33 for each $100 spent at the pump to fill a vehicle. It would also decrease the amount that families spend on everything else, including food and other goods. This is not just about the price it costs to fill your vehicle.  
 
I think Manitobans deserve some answers here. I read it in the comments that parents are making in the high costs of everything.  
 
Why doesn't the "Competition Bureau" take any interest in investigating these monopolies? Can't say this one is a consequence of "market conditions" when so many regions outside of Manitoba are paying much different costs for fuel.  
 
And a look at the "price per barrel" cost for oil and brent crude will show that the price has been decreasing since it's high earlier this year which appears to be highly correlated with the war in Ukraine. But market prices have dropped, so what gives?

I know it’s a 40 cent difference, I was out there on the long weekend.  
 
I also said the fuel tax is part of the difference, not the entire difference.

I agree, but it is also nearly 40 cents per liter cheaper an hour south from here once you cross the border into North Dakota.  
 
This is just something I want people to be aware of when they are trying to figure out how to buy food for their families, or put the fuel in their cars to get their children to school, or drive themselves to and from work.  
 
And it's not just that, but mortgage rates have been going up to tame inflation, which is mostly caused by these stark differences in the cost of fuel.  
 
So don't think it's just the cost of the fuel. The added costs of inflation bleed into everything, including how much interest you pay to the bank for your mortgage and rent. The bank of Canada has been talking about increases of 4% to tame inflation. 4% is an extra $4,000 in interest costs per $100,000 in mortgage PER YEAR. So this is a massive problem, that can likely be easily resolved if we just ask ourselves why we are being expected to pay an additional 40 cents per liter in added costs of fuel at the pump.  
 
It's a complex topic, but it also deserves some discussions, and some questions about why we need to accept this path. That's all I'm saying.  
 
And I'm putting the question to the politicians elected to represent Brandon. Why the huge difference?

You can buy gas cheaper in Regina.  
Usually we are the same or Regina is higher. Oil went up to $120 but now it’s sitting at $84 a barrel, that’s the price when gas was $1.20 per litre earlier this year.

cheaper in Regina and more expensive in Vancouver. How much in Toronto? Miami?

I was in Toronto last week and gas was 1.24 at that time

WOW. Oil at $79 a barrel. We are being GOUGED at the pumps. We should be at the most $1.20/litre  
The premier is no good for anything!  
 
Edited by Iceman69, 2022-09-23 16:24:14

Gas is much cheaper here than in other countries such as the UK.  
The best course of action is to be pro active and take control of your own expenditure and drive a smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle while reducing your miles travelled as much as possible.  
Unfortunately if you think long term that fuel prices will reduce you are wrong. Over time government taxes and the carbon tax will continue to increase and inflate fuel prices regardless of market conditions so the only way out for the consumer is try to reduce fuel dependancy.  
 
Edited by Farmergeorge, 2022-09-23 16:48:10

Especially with our low wages.. our lovely $11.95/h that every one pays everyone it seems..

Petro Canada $1.85 per liter.  
 
Talking about lower fuel prices…lol

CAA card gets you 3 cents a litre off at participating shell stations

Seen that yesterday was wondering if that was an error or if one should be fueling up today. A 23cent jump is pretty out of the ordinary.

A .30 cent per liter difference between 2 gas stations within 1km of each other is a bit EXTREME to say the least as seen on the North Hill an hour ago.  
 
Edited by alight, 2022-09-25 13:35:17

I’ve heard that this area tends to have sky high prices due to our high demand for fuel. Though I struggled to reconcile that answer before, it does make more sense now.  
 
Compared to the provinces maim metroplex, this city is small enough to easily exit and quite close to many summer and winter recreational opportunities. With recreational opportunities comes Gus consuming toys, and with those come the requirement of larger vehicles.  
 
We have high demand, but don’t have the competitive advantage of the vast number of outlets that one would have in the metroplex (Winnipeg). The situation is unfortunate for everyone paying these prices by necessity (the business community, the financially constrained etc). But there always has been a solution. Use less.

is the rack price in Regina, and what the traffic will bear. Been that way for decades.

more stations are jacking the price to 185.9. And of course it will go up 20 cents at once but will take months to go down the same amount.

Gas Buddy not showing any increase in Brandon. I’m assuming the issue has rectified itself?

Petro-Can at 26th and Vic, SuperStore, Canadian Tire at 185.9. I saw Canadian Tire at 4pm at that price. Unless they have since gone down, which would be great.

I saw that, but the Co-op and the new station on 18th st, as well as the Esso at the SW corner of 18th and the Trans Canada were still $1.629 earlier this evening.

Filled up here today 174.9/l, whilst most in Brandon are cheaper.