Final yr, petrol stations acquired 547 warnings from rivals for promoting petrol at a worth deemed too reasonably priced. And that to the detriment of drivers.
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“Gasoline companies have acquired formal notices from their rivals for not promoting their gasoline to motorists at a excessive sufficient worth,” explains Nicolas Gagnon of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (FCC). “The petrol ground worth mechanism protects companies on the expense of customers and it’s time to finish it. »
The FCC is utilizing the discharge of its annual report on Tax Transparency on the Pump to denounce Quebec’s gasoline ground worth and the Legault authorities’s lack of motion to assist motorists.
A minimal worth that harms motorists
“The minimal petrol worth imposed by the authorities on drivers artificially will increase the value on the pump that’s handed on to drivers, whereas stopping petrol stations from turning into extra aggressive and providing higher costs,” criticizes Nicolas Gagnon.
Every week, the Régie de l’énergie calculates the “Estimated Minimal Worth,” which units the authorized minimal promoting worth for petroleum merchandise for every area and sub-region of Quebec. If a gasoline station proprietor sells his merchandise beneath the estimated reserve worth, he’s prone to obtain an unfair industrial warning from his rivals.
Within the interval 2021-2022, the Régie de l’énergie recorded 547 formal notifications of petrol offered at a worth deemed unaffordable by its rivals.
Montreal is among the many costliest
The FCC factors out that Montreal ranks fourth among the many cities with the best gasoline taxes within the nation, at 33 p.c of the value.
Quebec additionally ranks fourth among the many provinces with the best gasoline costs, with a median worth on the pump of round $1.69.
“The quite a few taxes and gasoline costs are obstacles that weigh closely on households’ wallets in Quebec,” added Mr. Gagnon. “If François Legault cares about their state of affairs, he ought to take into consideration emulating Alberta or Ontario, which supply motorists aid by decreasing their provincial gasoline tax,” he concludes.