Timmins-James Bay MP calls for gas price fairness

On Feb. 2, Timmins-James Bay NDP MP Charlie Angus demanded gas fairness for Northern Ontario in the House of Commons.

The City of Timmins has recently taken up the call and Angus invites all Northern municipalities to join in this fight.

“Refinery profits are being subsidized out of the pockets of hardworking families who have no choice but to drive to work while Northern businesses are taking the hit with their bottom line,” said Angus.

“We need to stand up for our residents who continue to get hosed at the pumps and gouged in their pocket books. It’s time to insist on fairness at the pumps.”

In Timmins for example, residents continue to pay gas prices nearly 35 per cent higher than residents in Regina.

When the price of a barrel of crude rises on international markets, the price of gas in the pumps jumps immediately. But, if the price of a barrel of crude drops on international markets, then the price of gas at the pump in Northern Ontario still remains high.

Angus says when you start asking why prices remain high when a barrel of crude bottoms out, the answers you get are vague.

“Low price of the loonie; lack of refining capacity; I’ve heard it all,” said Angus.

“We are told the costs of oil are reflected at the pump and passed onto Canadians when they are high, but, never when they are low. It doesn’t take an economist to know this needs to be investigated.”