Metro Vancouver gas prices expected to climb well above $2/L
Just after midnight Monday, the price for gasoline at stations throughout Metro Vancouver climbed above $2 per litre, before dipping ever so slightly below the two-dollar mark.
It is not a record high, but the fact it’s still only March “does not bode well,” because historically prices peak around April or the May long weekend, according to an analyst.
The most recent hike is being blamed on the switch from winter to summer gasoline.
To help cars start in cold weather, winter fuel contains butane which is relatively cheap, but generally not recommended for summer driving.
“That butane when burned in warmer temperatures, contributes to low-level ozone which you don't really want in cities where there are potentially hundreds of thousands of vehicles running around, including Vancouver,” said Patrick De Haan, petroleum analyst at GasBuddy.
“You’d probably noticed it in air quality,” he said.
This is also considered the shoulder season, when refineries are doing maintenance in anticipation of the switch in gasoline.
That means they aren’t producing as much fuel, and of course when supply is low, prices go up.
“It's also the fact that across Canada and the United States, there’s not just one type of summer gasoline but over a dozen, so it's a logistical challenge to get the gasoline to where it needs to go in time for that summer gasoline switch over,” explained De Haan.
As for how high the price at the pump will rise, De Haan warned that if there is an issue at one of the refineries, we could see the cost of gas climb 20 to 30 cents more per litre.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
DEVELOPING Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar
Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar, which seeks to halt the seven-month war with Israel in Gaza, prompting Israel to say it would send a delegation to negotiate – though it warned the proposal remained far from the 'necessary requirements.'
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to quash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Competition Bureau launches inquiry into Lululemon over 'greenwashing' allegations
Canada's Competition Bureau has launched an inquiry into Vancouver-based Lululemon following a complaint from members of an environmental group.
An American soldier was arrested in Russia and accused of stealing, U.S. officials say
An American soldier has been arrested in Russia and accused of stealing, according to U.S. officials. The soldier was stationed in South Korea and was in the process of returning home to the United States, but travelled to Russia.
Manitoba Court of Appeal dismisses Peter Nygard's appeal of extradition order
The Manitoba Court of Appeal has dismissed Peter Nygard's application for a judicial review of an order to extradite the former fashion mogul to the United States, where he faces sex trafficking and racketeering charges.