Gas prices in Canada are about to surge in the next few days as a result of the impending change to summer gasoline.
Motorists in Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and the Maritimes will be hit the hardest, according to GasBuddy.
As a result of the change-over, motorists will likely see a 4 to 5 c/litre increase in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and St. John’s.
A 2 c/litre increase is likely in Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Victoria.
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The cost of the more expensive blend of gasoline will cost every driver more from April until mid-September when requirements will ease.
“For decades, the April change-over may have flown under the radar of many drivers but indeed, federal laws require refiners to produce and sell gasoline that is less susceptible to evaporation given higher ambient temperatures in the early spring, summer, and early fall driving season,” said Dan McTeague, senior petroleum analyst at GasBuddy.
“The change means refiners must add more expensive components as part of their fuel processing, a cost that is inevitably passed onto motorists,” said McTeague.
“The switchover and the accompanying price increase aren’t always easy, but its positive contribution to the environment and health in mitigating ground-level ozone and even preventing engine vapour lock is a real plus.”
The summer increase follows the federal government’s new carbon tax, which kicked in on April 1.
The tax hike — which is intended to put a price on carbon pollution and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change — only affects four provinces without their own carbon pricing system, which includes Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Manitoba.
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