THUNDER BAY – Facing mounting pressure from the provincial government, gas prices in Thunder Bay continued their downward retreat on Thursday.
Most stations in the city are now selling a litre of regular unleaded for about $1.248, down 22 cents from a recent high of $1.469.
Prices in Northwestern Ontario are still on average the highest in the province, which as of Thursday afternoon averaged $1.029.
On Wednesday, Parry-Sound Muska Conservative MPP Norm Miller said the Ontario government has promised to reduce gas prices, saying in the legislature that those savings aren’t being felt in all regions of the province.
“Parts of Northern Ontario are not benefiting from our action to reduce gas prices,” Miller said, asking Energy Minister Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora, to explain what he is doing to reduce the pain at the pump.
“It’s clear to me that these savings are not being passed on,” Rickford said, adding prices are greatly distorted in the region and unfair when compared to pricing elsewhere in Ontario.
Rickford last week threatened to go to the competition bureau if prices didn’t begin to decline, but said Ontario won’t resort to regulated gas pricing, as can be found in other provinces.
“We’re going to stand up for fair pricing,” he said.
Gasoline is as low as $0.953 a litre in nearby Fort William First Nation. The lowest price in Ontario is Moraviantown First Nation, where according to GasBuddy.com, a litre of gas can be purchased for as low as $0.857.
