B.C. gas prices: Suppliers, government point fingers at market

It appears B.C. drivers facing skyrocketing gas prices aren’t going to see any relief any time soon — if ever. Those who could make a difference seem to be passing over the question like a hot potato.

The price at the pump has been soaring, breaking records in B.C., and drivers in Metro Vancouver have been paying as much as $2.229 per litre.

One of B.C.’s major refined fuel suppliers says there’s nothing it can do to ease the immediate pressures of high gas prices.

The war in Ukraine has been partly blamed for the surge in gas prices, a sentiment echoed by Bob Espey, president and CEO of Burnaby-based Parkland Corp.

“Restrictions that have been placed on Russia have reduced the amount of refined product globally, and that’s further driven up prices around the world. So, it’s not just a B.C. phenomenon,” Espey said.

“We are in an environment that is inflationary and seeing prices dictated by items that are out of our local control. Like, i said, the situation in Europe right now is really driving a dramatic price increase.”

Metro Vancouver drivers pay some of the highest taxes on fuel in the country. Still, even after taking those taxes into account, the base cost is more than neighbouring Alberta and Washington state, where it’s at least 70 cents less per litre.

Inflation, and supply and demand have also been blamed for the rising prices.

Espey says there is nothing that can be done on their end to adjust the price now. What they can do, he says, is keep the fuel coming.

“The biggest thing to make sure that people in B.C. have the best economics around energy is to make sure that there’s sufficient manufacturing capacity.”

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Government is not making any moves to ease the pain at the pump, but B.C.’s energy minister says provincial politicians understand fuel price inflation is an acute problem that affects costs beyond just driving. It’s also a factor in goods and services we use.

Some provinces have taken action to try to help ease the burden on drivers’ wallets by tackling taxes. However, in B.C., Premier John Horgan’s government has opted for a one-time $110 ICBC rebate instead, something that’s drawn much criticism.