Washington state seeing more BC drivers as gas prices spike
Posted April 8, 2018 9:33 am.
Last Updated April 8, 2018 9:37 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BLAINE, WA. (NEWS 1130) – As Lower Mainland drivers continue to pay the price at the pump, figuratively and relatively, it looks as though our friends south of the line are also feeling the effects.
At least one gas station just in Washington state has recently noticed a change in the crowd that’s cruising in.
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There has been a big increase in the number of Canadian license plates showing up at the Chevron on Peace Portal Drive in Blaine over the last two weeks, says Thomas Shinn, who is a clerk at the station.
He explains people have come from as far away as Whistler to take advantage of the lower prices.
“Majority of them are coming from Richmond [and] Surrey area because it’s not that far of a drive and definitely worth getting the gas here, but it’s definitely getting to be to a point where some of them are seeing that it’s a bit pricey to fill up a big truck or an SUV up there.”
Shinn adds he hears a lot of comments from BC about the prices on this side of the border as more people seek out cheaper fuel.
“The dollar right now for us is better so we go up there and people are shopping. So, I think it’s good all in all for everybody… for them to be able to come down and save some money.”
Gas prices in BC started spiking several weeks ago and set a new record after quickly approaching the $1.56/L mark.
On Apr. 1, the BC NDP increased the carbon tax by $5/t, right before the summer driving season when prices go up anyway. There will be an increase of 1.2 cents a litre annually for the next four years. The goal of the levy is to have BC achieve its 2050 emissions reduction target (80 per cent below 2007 levels by the year 2050.)
