THUNDER BAY - Area drivers are starting the New Year with a grimace and a groan at the gas pumps, as prices jump more than 12 cents at local gas stations.
The average price of a litre of gasoline in Ontario is 111 cents per litre, up from 105.9 cents one week ago. Drivers in Thunder Bay are feeling the pain even more with prices at local gas stations ranging from 117.9 cents per litre to as high as 123.9 cents per litre.
“I think it’s dreadful,” said Jeanne Adams after filling up Monday morning. “I really do. I think it’s awful.”
Gas prices rose Jan. 1 and the most recent increase is the result of the Ontario government’s new cap-and-trade program, which will also see Ontarians paying more for natural gas.
The plan is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and added an increase of 4.3 cents per litre to the cost of gasoline and will increase the cost of natural gas by $6.70 a month for home heating.
“It’s expensive,” said Stefan Chery. “It does suck but I guess it’s necessary. I’m assuming it’s related to carbon taxes. My car is not great and I have to put in premium gas so I’m at 141 [cents per litre], so it kind of hurts.”
Chery, like many drivers, said high gas prices in Northern Ontario is just becoming a way of life for drivers and it’s just a matter of getting used to it.
“I think it weighs out in the end,” he said. “There are days I drive more often and other times that I just leave the car behind. I don’t think we have much of a choice so we just have to keep driving and keep paying.”
Adams said she also tries to adjust her driving habits when prices get too high, which may mean leaving the car at home more often.
“I will think twice,” she said. “If I can walk somewhere, I will go. I’m certainly not going to be driving all over the place unnecessarily.”
But some people don’t have a choice when it comes to leaving the car behind. Victoria Miedema, a student, said she is limited when it comes to getting around town.
“I was just thinking as I was filling up my car that I’m going to try not to be driving as much because it is so expensive,” she said. “But I can’t really cut back on my driving much unless I carpool with friends and family.”
“It sucks after Christmas,” Miedema added. “You spend a lot of money and I’m going to school as well, so it’s hard for me to fill up my tank.”
Drivers from out of town were feeling the pain, too, with gas prices in Northern Ontario usually higher than other parts of Canada.
David Ranta, who was visiting from Winnipeg, filled up his car Monday morning and he said back in Winnipeg he was only paying about 90 cents per litre two weeks ago.
“I think they will probably jump [in Manitoba], but I don’t think it will be as high as here,” he said. “It’s usually about 10 cents lower.”
For Adams, the high cost of gas in the region, which is more than 10 cents above the provincial average, is appalling.
“I feel resentful that across Canada the prices are always a lot lower than they are here,” she said. “I think we have the right to complain about it. We need justification for that huge jump. Ten more cents is 10 more cents and when you’re looking at a litre, that’s a lot.”
