Yesterday's spike in gas prices in eastern Canada has made it out west, with gas stations in B.C. posting higher pump prices into the weekend.
But it might be worse out here than the rest of the country: in cities across B.C., motorists have been paying around $1.50 per litre. That's 10 cents more than the average Canadian pre-litre price of $1.40.
On Friday, people in Toronto saw their gas prices jump 13 cents. Observers blamed the force of Hurricane Ike, which has been working its way inland after making landfall in Texas and disrupting American oil production.
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By the end of the day, gas stations in Metro Vancouver were following suit, with some charging $1.51 per litre. On Friday morning, prices around the Lower Mainland were under $1.40.
In Victoria, CTV News saw one gas station charging $1.519 per litre. In Kamloops, the prices hovered around $148.9 per litre. In Vernon, it was $1.504; in Nanaimo, the price hit $1.489 per litre, and in Fort Nelson, it was $1.499.
The sticker shock has made its way to the campaign trail, with NDP leader Jack Layton promising relief for motorists through regulation.
"This morning we laid out a plan that would allow families to get some protection and consumers to get some protection against the unfair gas gouging that's going on," said Layton.
But oil companies say they can't control natural disasters like Hurricane Ike.
Some motorists are accustomed to the price hikes.
"People still fill up because it's a necessity," said one. "I guess you just pay whatever because you have no choice, right?"
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Reshmi Nair
