Discussions

maybe so this can happen  
 
"British energy giant Shell reported a record quarterly profit of $9 billion on Thursday, aided by a surge in oil and gas prices that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine."  
 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/05/05/shell-reports-record-9-billion-quarterly-profit-as-oil-and-gas-prices-surged/?sh=6b7ffc4d1f94  
 
"Imperial, which is majority-owned by Exxon Mobil Corp, posted net earnings of $1.17 billion, or $1.75 per share, from $392 million, or 53 cents per share, a year ago. The company said this was its highest first-quarter earnings in over 30 years."  
 
"Canada’s Imperial Oil on Friday booked a first-quarter profit boosted by soaring global oil prices, and announced plans for a substantial issuer bid (SIB) that will involve buying back up to $2.5 billion of its common shares."  
......Because what else do these big companies do after gouging the consumer.  
 
https://financialpost.com/commodities/energy/oil-gas/canadas-imperial-oil-nearly-triples-quarterly-profit-on-surging-crude-prices  
 
Yes gas is on its way out but it isn't gone yet and we still have to fuel our monsters.

Save gas.  
Buy a small motorcycle for warm months. 80 mpg here.  
I was never able to afford to run a car everyday, even when I was employed .

Because we do. Companies are finding out what the market will bear. It's call capitalism. Until revenue goes down because customers go elsewhere (do without), nothing will change.  
 
Also, the price of gasoline has nothing to do with the price of crude oil. Only time that comes up is as an excuse to increase prices at the pump.  
 
Don't like it? Hard truth: use less gasoline. Prices aren't going down anytime soon.

All the people who go protest at the drop of a hat...  
This should be the thing their protesting !!!

Buy less gas

some, a lot actually , would like to use /buy less gas but there is that little thing called work. Bussing is not always an option, especially Brandon given the bus schedule, work expectations, biking is also not always doable. others work out of town, so conserving on day to day requirements is not an option. Altho.... nice to be some people who can choose their locations work/home.  
So until electric cars are the regular mode of transportation on personal levels, gas vehicle's are what is used.  
 
I'm sure you drive an electric car, ride a bikes yourself, why I bet you even cut your grass with an electric lawn mower, in other words practice what you preach.

but rather stating facts. Whether or not someone can do something will change, I think, as gas gets more expensive. Sad but true.

You can find a reason to not do anything if you try hard enough. Obviously not every option will work for every person, and the bottom line is that it shouldn't be so difficult for average people to make a day-to-day living.  
 
Unfortunately we do not currently live in such a world, and plenty of people have to make everyday sacrifices so that they have a little extra money left over to pay for the things that they deem necessities.  
 
This isn't me saying that it's fair, but it is how it is. Anything that is a privately owned industry will find ways to see how far they can push consumers into paying as much as they can. All anyone can really do is look out for themselves. Find ways to prioritize things that are actual necessities, and make some sacrifices elsewhere so that you can maintain those things. Plenty of people take the bus, walk, ride bikes to work in town. Sure those things have their inconveniences, you just have to choose which inconvenience you are willing to put up with. Expensive gas or bus schedules? Expensive gas or time and physical effort?  
 
 
Alternatively, you could seek the downfall of capitalism and privately owned industry.

Unfortunately electric vehicles won’t be a cheaper answer in the long run. As more of us switch to electric ( and we will ), demand for electricity will rise and cost will rise with it.  
Ultimately if we wish to save money the only option will be for all of us to reduce journeys and travelling which will require massive changes for each of us in the way that we live, work and play. Our expectations will have to change as well.

This is exactly it.  
 
Electric vehicles are a stop-gap solution. The only long-term/sustainable option will be a major reworking of society. It will be painful for many, but our hand will eventually be forced either by economics or by disaster.

A lot of those are choices we can ultimately control to a degree. We can choose to live closer to work. We can choose to work closer to home. We can choose to change jobs.  
 
I recognize I'm speaking somewhat from privilege here, but life is choices. Riding a bus isn't great, but it might be more time-efficient that owning a car if an hour or two a day of your employment is necessary to fund your car. Riding a bike will keep you in shape and probably extend your life. Not every job will allow for this, but again that boils down to choices.  
 
Life is always a trade off. Some things cost time. Others cost money. Others yet both time AND money lol. It's figuring out what you're willing to spend and choosing accordingly.

https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/future/crude%20oil%20-%20electronic?mod=home-page  
 
Sadly that chart looks like it might just want to go next level, we’ll see next week.

when we all are less able to drive to the big stores, that the corner shop will once again come into it's own.  
When electric vehicles become the norm and the government is taxing extra on the hydro, or as a sales tax / annual usage fee, to compensate for revenue lost on petrol/gas sales, we will once again be patronising those local stores and appreciating the personal customer service that they usually gave.  
The English post war "new towns" were all built as communities, shops within walking distance as well as sports facilities. Very few folks had a vehicle up until the 60's so everyone walked to the shop, you knew your neighbours and would shop for the housebound or ill.  
Guess I should stop dreaming and inhabit the real world!

my pension plan does, and just about everything else that touches my life like food, shelter, clothing, job. etc  
This sure has been a great 3 yrs.

all I have to do is change my life, I'll call everyone affected and let them know what to expect. I'll ride my bike to work If my boss won't change my hours to accommodate me I can either wake up a hour or two earlier or quit. That will also save me coming in early to change into my work outfit as well. Your advise has shown me it can't be that hard.... I'll get right on it.

You’re not dreaming, you’re right, that is just the kind of more sustainable way of living that we need to get back to.

You don't have to go that far, but those are good ideas. I'm looking for a job that will let me work remotely at least 2 days per week, and am planning to bicycle to work for the other 3-4 days per week where I have to physically go to work. I've also started using my bicycle for a lot of small trips like light shopping trips, going out to watch a movie, going out for food, etc. And I've cut back on the amount I drive by combining a trips. I'll stop by the grocery store on my way home from the gym, instead of doing separate trips on separate days.

Some of us who live in the country have been doing this for years. I have always done my shopping after work -I never make a special trip Into town to buy groceries. I plan my shopping so that I do everything in one corner of town all at one time. If I forget something, it waits until the next time I go to work and the next time I am in the right area of town. I now have a job that means several miles less to drive every day, and it does make a difference on gas. I am not concerned about what I pay for gas-I can easily afford to buy what I need for my weekly driving- but I have never been one to waste gas and I am not going to start now. I won't be riding a bike to town and am glad that I will not have to do that!

Thebrofessor  
 
I imagine ( perhaps in error) that most of the people proffering "alternative" live style are speaking from a privileged perspective.  
The people fewer/fewest resources are always those with the least "choice" and pay the highest price. Choices are not available to everyone, part of the problem today with countries like Canada is those with choices can't fathom that.  
 
Have a good weekend  
 
Edited by delpmb, 2022-05-07 07:42:50

I don't know what I'll do in winter yet. I have a coworker who bikes year round, so I might try that. Even if I have to go back to my car in winter, I still will have significantly reduced my gas consumption in summer. That's still better than doing nothing.  
 
Among the people that I know, the ones who are most willing to try alternatives are the ones with the least privileges. Many of my immigrant friends and friends who are in university can't even afford to have a car. Those that do own cars have decided to move to something more fuel efficient, are driving less, or have parked their vehicles and are going carless for the summer.

It is apparent from your replies to this thread that you don't actually seem to be interested in any viable solutions, and rather are looking for an outlet to complain.  
 
Nothing wrong with that, however you should probably specify that you are only interested in complaining before everyone wastes precious keystrokes on providing you with reasonable alternatives.

Riding your bike walking or bus are ok when you live in town. A lot of people live in the country and a lot farm. Every time gas goes up so does the cost of bread cookies etc. As the shipping cost go up. It does effect every one. As for electric vehicles our hydro grids are getting older if everyone goes to electric vehicles it will put a bigger load on our hydro system which then will have to be upgraded and cost the consumers more. Canada needs to look at making the resources in Canada and not shipping raw product outside the country and then buying the finished product back at a more higher price. The people in government seem to be pushing electric which is fine as long as they don’t have shares in some electric company. Price of gas in Canada needs to come down to a reasonable price. No one can afford gas no one travels might mean less jobs just a thought.

is because oil and gas companies know we really have no alternatives and that we will pay that price. So they will use every excuse to keep it high so they can rake in the profits. The price of oil has stabilized to where it's not outrageous and it's in a pretty normal zone where it had been for years in the past. We really never had any shortage of fuel.

I farm but I have to live in town. This is why to reduce my gas usage and save money I commute by small motorcycle when possible and that has always worked for me for 40 years. If it gets too costly for that I will be forced to commute by bicycle and although less easy I won’t have a choice.  
It is what it is . We have to accept no matter what that fuel and energy costs regardless of their source will continue to rise and with the carbon tax as well it will only increase further. As individuals we will all have to make changes in our lifestyles, work and businesses that will be viable. No one said any of this would be easy but change is inevitable. Do I agree with all of it? In parts yes In others no. However I accept that we have to make some changes as everyone else will have to make changes as well.  
The truth is that most of us have lived a decent lifestyle for the last 70 years and anything that we need or want has been readily available and accessible. Those times are now over . We have to learn to live differently.

to know I am a fervent walker, bike rider, I only use the car when absolutely necessary, and I just bought an electric cordless lawnmower after years and years of using a gas one.  
This does not save me from high food prices ,I am not one to go for "boutique" food , but the basics are expensive now as well, I eat leftovers and know how to make a dollar stretch.  
So don't think you know a person from a tiny little bit of posting on this site, okay!  
I posted because I can see the other side of a situation and not just my own, an ability not possessed by many others, it seems.

The only reason prices are where they are at is government. Our prices are decided by a global board (OPEC). Why is gas in Venezuela only 3 cents/liter or Iran 5 cents/liter? Its because they are not decided by global influence. The carbon tax is a joke, and just a way for government to get more of your pay cheque. Where does that money go? How do you pass cash on to mother nature to make her feel better?  
 
If you live in a city you have options of public transport, pedal bike or walking, As a farmer we don't have options. Crops need to be planted, animals need to be fed. All of this so people could be fed. The difference in fuel price since January even without carbon tax is over 50 cents/liter. That is a huge increase in input costs, that can only be passed down to the end customer.  
 
We need government to hit the brakes on carbon taxes along with all the other increases, and look for a viable solution. and as we found out 2 weeks ago, electric is not a viable solution, as every household in our area was plugged into an electric generator run by gas

Government can’t hit the brakes on carbon taxes, they have signed international agreements. How else can government force people to reduce their fuel consumption without price increases. We have to drive more economical or alternative vehicles when possible and we have to drive less journeys.  
As for other price increases, well the solution for high prices is high prices, that is what is called market forces. Increasing inflation followed by further interest rate rises will temper borrowing, spending and consumer demand to some degree and is necessary although most people have never experienced higher interest rates and have little understanding of how it will and must impact their lives.  
As for food costs. If the Ukraine war is prolonged or encompasses a wider area and if crops are delayed or damaged elsewhere such as Western Canada, if input costs continue to increase then I am afraid that food availability and cost to the consumer will become much higher then we are currently experiencing. Government cannot control that! We may even have to return to rationing.  
The only truly viable and sustainable option regarding energy cost is to reduce energy consumption at work, at home and  
In our leisure activities.  
Major reductions need to be made immediately by consumers to reduce consumption of food, goods, clothing, travel and energy.  
 
Edited by Farmergeorge, 2022-05-09 09:20:55

The gas price increases are mostly caused by oil companies who have the ability to set the prices, not by government. Iran and Venezuela have cheap gas because there are government subsidies for gas, but that is not something that we should be doing. There are better things that we can give subsidies to or spend money on.  
 
Electric is certainly a viable solution for a lot of people. To dismiss it because of a power outage is short sighted. Gas stations don't work when there's a power outage either.  
 
Edited by TheBrofessor, 2022-05-09 09:37:09

I meant to say that if crops are delayed or damaged then food availability will be greatly reduced and cost will be much higher then we are currently experiencing.

The prices are on the government, because we buy all our fuel from a global market even though we produce enough here in Canada. It is purchased with a weak Canadian dollar due to inflation caused by our government blowing money like it's going out of style. Then it gets taxed, and taxed again, followed by another tax, and now lets add another tax.  
Also you were right, electric is viable for a lot of people, but you can't punish the ones who it isn't viable for by raising prices. There needs to be a viable option for everyone before eliminating the only option some have