New week, new record high gas prices in Metro Vancouver

It’s the start of another work week and the price of gas has, yet again, hit a new record high — $2.339 per litre for Metro Vancouver.

Both gasoline and diesel prices continue their weeks-long rally and Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, says new records continue to be set on a near daily basis.

“Inventories of both gasoline and diesel continue to decline, temperatures warm and motorists get back outside and we near the Victoria Day weekend, the start of the summer driving season. While the increases may start to slow in the days ahead as pump prices catch up to oil, there isn’t much reason to be optimistic that we’ll see a plunge any time soon.”

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The price for a litre of regular at Vancouver pumps Monday morning is more than 30 cents higher than a month ago and close to 80-cents higher than a year ago.

According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on May 16 in Vancouver have ranged widely over the last five years: $1.529 per litre in 2021, $1.052 per litre in 2020, $1.633 per litre in 2019, $1.579 per litre in 2018 and $1.335 per litre in 2017.

The national average for a litre of regular as of Monday morning was $1.979 per litre.

As the price at the pump climbs, so does the anger addressed at B.C. Premier John Horgan online.

One person posts “Mr. Horgan, sir, I think you are very out of touch with the people of your province. We are suffering from high rents, food, gas prices, taxes etc. This will soon be a province of the extremely wealthy and shanties for the rest of us.”

Others questioned the province over its rebate of $110, suggesting it does not go far enough.

“[John Horgan] needs to go give residents an actual break with gas prices not some stupid statement and a half [a**] one time rebate,” one post reads in part.

It comes following comments made by the premier on Friday, suggesting drivers should consider other options as a result of a high gas prices.

“I encourage people to think before you hop in the car, do you need to drive?”

Horgan also encouraged British Columbians to work together as a way of reducing fuel costs.

“If you’re going to the grocery store and you know that you’ve got a neighbour that needs something, ask if you can pick it up for them and reduce the number of trips that we take,” he said, making reference to the fall, when the province introduced fuel restrictions due to catastrophic flooding in the region.

Many have called for B.C. to follow Alberta in easing the burden on drivers’ wallets by tackling taxes, however, Horgan says that would impact vital infrastructure projects and instead has opted for a one-time $110 ICBC rebate.

Many expect gas prices will be a hot topic at the legislature Monday, as B.C. Liberal leader Kevin Falcon is officially being sworn in as the MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena, and he’s expected to go after Premier John Horgan for his government’s response to the mounting gas prices.

In the past, Falcon has called on Horgan to stop collecting provincial taxes for three months to give consumers a break.

With files from Katarina Szulc