'I didn't think it would get this high': Drivers fume as Ottawa gas prices hit new record high
Ottawa motorists will be fuming at the pumps today, as gas prices hit a new record high.
And an industry analyst warns prices are set to climb even higher this coming week in Ottawa and across Ontario.
"We could be looking at $2.20 at some point this time next week," Canadians for Affordable Energy President Dan McTeague told CTV News on Saturday, adding there was an increase in after-hours trading on Friday that will be reflected in prices at the pumps this week.
"I think $2.35 is what I'm going to see happening on many occasions this summer."
Prices jumped three cents a litre overnight to 214.9 cents a litre at Ottawa stations. The increase follows a five cent a litre hike on Friday and a three cents hike on Saturday
"The gas is changing our life, the price is very frustrating," delivery driver Thierno Mamoudou Diallo said on Friday, adding the price of fuel is forcing him to work less.
"I'm just going to stop doing delivery because I can't continue doing delivery full day. The amount I used to have just keeps going down and if the gas keeps going up, I can't work anymore."
The sky-high fuel costs are driving up the cost of food and other items.
"Diesel costs, energy costs are becoming a factor," said Sylvain Charlebois – Director of Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. "It's one of many contributing to our food inflation rate."
Gas prices have been rising significantly this spring due to supply shortages, fuelled by sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The summer driving season is also leading to price hikes.
McTeague says "one positive" for drivers could be the Progressive Conservatives campaign promise to cut fuel taxes. Premier Doug Ford and the PC Party promised to temporarily reduce the gas tax by 5.7 cents a litre for six months, starting July 1.
According to ottawagasprices.com, the average price for gas in Ottawa was $1.25 in June 2021.
"I didn't think it would get this high, so it's very surprising to me," said one driver on Saturday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
Following child's death in Ontario, here's what you need to know about rabies and bats
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
NDP house leader laments 'agents of chaos' in precarious Parliament
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Here's what the jury didn't hear in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building in Old Montreal early Friday morning, sources told Noovo Info.