Gas prices

[Topaz]

It seems our PM says there nothing HE can do to lower the gas prices and we just have to suffer with the prices. IF prices keep going up and Canadians start screaming louder, he better do something about it. The voter always has the power over government. Harper has a minority and when an election does come , he could find himself standing on the other side of the aisle! Quebec and the "horseshoe" around Lake Ontario could be the ones to put the pressure on Harper to bring down the prices. By taxing the oil companies more and passing it on to the customer. Or Harper could make it easier to have them build more refineries so we can make our own gas instead buying it back from the US. Customers could try and reduce the demand but other than that , what is there for the customer to do, its up to the government and the oil companies.

[Canuck E Stan]

. IF prices keep going up and Canadians start screaming louder....

First point, Gas prices WILL keep going up,have you checked the price in Europe?

Second point, remember the environment?

This is all for the good of the number one issue that Canadians feel is important in the country.

This is supposed to make people cut back on their use of gas, buy smaller cars and save the planet.

You are for saving the planet,aren't you?

It's for the good of the environment, so suck it up.

[madmax]

First point, Gas prices WILL keep going up,have you checked the price in Europe?

Second point, remember the environment?

This is all for the good of the number one issue that Canadians feel is important in the country.

This is supposed to make people cut back on their use of gas, buy smaller cars and save the planet.

You are for saving the planet,aren't you?

It's for the good of the environment, so suck it up.

You are comparing market forces vs political forces. The political forces give our Money to Multi Billion Dollar Companies in the oil sector. This does not "Save the Planet". Meanwhile these multi billion dollar companies are making billions and billions in profit. So why give them our money. The money that we give them also comes from the GST tax on gas which is a tax upon tax. Meanwhile, gas companies and the government revenues go up markedly as the price of fuel becomes inflated, because of investor speculation and greed. None of which has anything to do with the environment. Today they are talking up the market to have gas reach $100. a barrel.

Regardless, you appear to enjoy tax upon tax, like the Liberals and Conservatives. So if gas prices increase, it is ok, because Canadians like getting taxed more.

[madmax]

It seems our PM says there nothing HE can do to lower the gas prices and we just have to suffer with the prices. IF prices keep going up and Canadians start screaming louder, he better do something about it. The voter always has the power over government. Harper has a minority and when an election does come , he could find himself standing on the other side of the aisle! Quebec and the "horseshoe" around Lake Ontario could be the ones to put the pressure on Harper to bring down the prices. By taxing the oil companies more and passing it on to the customer. Or Harper could make it easier to have them build more refineries so we can make our own gas instead buying it back from the US. Customers could try and reduce the demand but other than that , what is there for the customer to do, its up to the government and the oil companies.

What Government?

What do you mean, taxing oil companies and passing it onto consumers?

Building Refineries in Canada, should never be overlooked. With Refineries comes many environmental troubles. Finding locations, where people will accept such a venture in their own backyard, is often a difficult process.

[geoffrey]

We're going to need to double the tax on gas yet if we want to reach the Conservatives less-than-ambitious Kyoto targets.

Are you all starting to see why niether party will do anything? Everyone pretends to be Green, but not many like gas prices to be legislated over $2 and their power and home heating bills to double.

If you support Kyoto, you should be LOVING these gas prices. It's great for the environment.

We all want to be Suzuki, but none of us want to pay anything. Doesn't work that way.

[Canuck E Stan]

If you support Kyoto, you should be LOVING these gas prices. It's great for the environment.

We all want to be Suzuki, but none of us want to pay anything. Doesn't work that way.

Exactly. Everyone is green in their thoughts, but not in their actions.

I'm ready,go ahead, raise gas to $3.00 a litre.

[geoffrey]

Exactly. Everyone is green in their thoughts, but not in their actions.

I'm ready,go ahead, raise gas to $3.00 a litre.

The prices and the recent congestion has made me reschedule my two hours of daily riding... one hour to work and one hour home.

I now only drive when it's raining heavily, and of course in the winter (I'm not willing to ride below -5, too much frostbite before). And I have a pretty fuel efficient car.

Let's do it. $3.00 a litre. I'd love to see the looks on the Hummer-owner's faces after that... and all the people criticising the government... for meeting that Kyoto accord they all think can be reached for free.

[Remiel]

I wonder how expensive gas would have to be before they started public transit into rural areas.

[Canuck E Stan]

Let's do it. $3.00 a litre. I'd love to see the looks on the Hummer-owner's faces after that... and all the people criticising the government... for meeting that Kyoto accord they all think can be reached for free.

Of course Dion says we can make money on the environment.

That's good news,but how long will it take before those big environmental bucks start to roll in?

Especially after the auto manufacturing sector in Ontario collapses(Windsor is at 10% unemployment now) and no one can afford to pay the heating bills.

That will teach about conservation of energy.

Raise that price to $5.oo a litre, the sooner the rise the sooner the Dion environmental bucks will pour in.

[stignasty]

I wonder how expensive gas would have to be before they started public transit into rural areas.

I drive 80km one way each day to work in a rural area. The price of gas (up $0.20/litre in the past two weeks) is hurting me.

[madmax]

We're going to need to double the tax on gas yet if we want to reach the Conservatives less-than-ambitious Kyoto targets.

We all want to be Suzuki, but none of us want to pay anything. Doesn't work that way.

I don't know how true your assessment is. If gas companies are getting free handouts and making huge returns in profit that most people are unable to comprehend. Then there is movement in many areas. Prices could be reduced by removing the GST on Gas. That was a Conservative Promise IIRC. People could receive the monies gifted to Gas Companies by our governments or have these monies put into services that people require. I see no reason to give gas companies my money while they are making huge profits and gouging us at the pumps.

These Gas companies are not charities. So why are we treating them as such? There is a perception that these prices in Canada are artificially high. Shouldn't this money that we pay to make the Gas companies filthy rich, be the monies that goes into meeting the CPCs less than ambitious targets?

I am not a fan of the tax on a tax. It was the CPC and it's predecessors that wanted this gouging at the pumps removed. But now it's ok?

Don't be hiding behind massive profits of gas companies, and blaming something that hasn't even occurred. There are Big Profits being made, and the consumer is the one forking out the cash and subsidizing the industry.

[madmax]

I drive 80km one way each day to work in a rural area. The price of gas (up $0.20/litre in the past two weeks) is hurting me.

That's a tough pill to swallow.

What I find interesting is that Norway has roughly the same amount of oil & gas as Alberta, and Norway has $250 Billion in their 'heritage fund' from oil royalties after 10 years, vs Alberta's $12 Billion after 31 years.

Perhaps you are getting short changed for the prices you are paying.

However, for your information, here are the prices aroung the globe for Gas in USD.

Venezuala is where you get the cheap stuff. Norway is right at the top.

Have to do your own litre to gallons calculations.

Netherlands Amsterdam $6.48

Norway Oslo $6.27

Italy Milan $5.96

Denmark Copenhagen $5.93

Belgium Brussels $5.91

Sweden Stockholm $5.80

United Kingdom London $5.79

Germany Frankfurt $5.57

France Paris $5.54

Portugal Lisbon $5.35

Hungary Budapest $4.94

Luxembourg $4.82

Croatia Zagreb $4.81

Ireland Dublin $4.78

Switzerland Geneva $4.74

Spain Madrid $4.55

Japan Tokyo $4.24

Czech Republic Prague $4.19

Romania Bucharest $4.09

Andorra $4.08

Estonia Tallinn $3.62

Bulgaria Sofia $3.52

Brazil Brasilia $3.12

Cuba Havana $3.03

Taiwan Taipei $2.84

Lebanon Beirut $2.63

South Africa Johannesburg $2.62

Nicaragua Managua $2.61

Panama Panama City $2.19

Russia Moscow $2.10

Puerto Rico San Juan $1.74

Saudi Arabia Riyadh $0.91

Kuwait Kuwait City $0.78

Egypt Cairo $0.65

Nigeria Lagos $0.38

Venezuela Caracas $0.12

[Canuck E Stan]

I drive 80km one way each day to work in a rural area. The price of gas (up $0.20/litre in the past two weeks) is hurting me.

Move.

[Wilber]

I drive 80km one way each day to work in a rural area. The price of gas (up $0.20/litre in the past two weeks) is hurting me.

Move.

Dumb answer. Do you know what he does for a living or where he works? Many people do not have fixed work places, they have to travel to where their work is. Many more can't afford to live in the areas where they work. If you are in something like construction your job site is continually changing. A neighbour of mine is a mason. He may be working in Richmond one month and Kamloops the next.

We have an interesting phenomena growing in Vancouver. It is getting difficult find many services because the people who provide them can't afford to live there and they have so much work in the burbs that they can't be bothered with the hassle and expense of going into the city even at higher rates. Old folks who have lived there all their lives have a tough time finding things like gardeners at any price let alone one they can afford.

[Canuck E Stan]

Dumb answer. Do you know what he does for a living or where he works? Many people do not have fixed work places, they have to travel to where their work is. Many more can't afford to live in the areas where they work. If you are in something like construction your job site is continually changing. A neighbour of mine is a mason. He may be working in Richmond one month and Kamloops the next.

We have an interesting phenomena growing in Vancouver. It is getting difficult find many services because the people who provide them can't afford to live there and they have so much work in the burbs that they can't be bothered with the hassle and expense of going into the city even at higher rates. Old folks who have lived there all their lives have a tough time finding things like gardeners at any price let alone one they can afford.

Too many people live too far away from their place of employment.

Change your place of employment or change the place you live.

Why is Vancouver so pricey for housing? Because people pay for the outrageous asking price. Too costly and hard to find help? Move to PEI and get a house on 2 acres for $58,000, that will leave lots of cash from the sale of the Vancouver home to hire a local to do gardering.

[Wilber]

Too many people live too far away from their place of employment.

Change your place of employment or change the place you live.

Why is Vancouver so pricey for housing? Because people pay for the outrageous asking price. Too costly and hard to find help? Move to PEI and get a house on 2 acres for $58,000, that will leave lots of cash from the sale of the Vancouver home to hire a local to do gardering.

Why do those people pay that price?

You tell people to move to where they work and then you tell them to move to PEI so they can afford a place to live. Got news for you, the places that are starving for labour are also the most expensive to live. Look at what you pay for a mobile home in Ft McMurray. My mother in law is 85 and has lived in the same house all her life. Moving from that place will probably kill her in short order.

[Canuck E Stan]

Why do those people pay that price?

You tell people to move to where they work and then you tell them to move to PEI so they can afford a place to live. Got news for you, the places that are starving for labour are also the most expensive to live. Look at what you pay for a mobile home in Ft McMurray. My mother in law is 85 and has lived in the same house all her life. Moving from that place will probably kill her in short order.

The question is about high gas prices, you can complain, make excuses, or you can do something.

If you think the gas for your SUV is costing you too much for that hour and a half drive to work and that two hour return trip to your 3000 square foot house, then you should consider what your options are.

Too many people refuse to look at any options and there are many.

Raise the price to $7.00 a litre, and watch how more people take a harder look at the options, and all of them will be good for the environment, I guarantee it.

[Wilber]

The question is about high gas prices, you can complain, make excuses, or you can do something.

If you think the gas for your SUV is costing you too much for that hour and a half drive to work and that two hour return trip to your 3000 square foot house, then you should consider what your options are.

Too many people refuse to look at any options and there are many.

Raise the price to $7.00 a litre, and watch how more people take a harder look at the options, and all of them will be good for the environment, I guarantee it.

Actually I drive a Jetta diesel with a manual transmission. I average just over 50 MPG on fuel that is currently $.95 a liter where I live. I'm retired and don't have to commute. What options? If you think that raising a family in a $400,000, 600 sq ft condo in Vancouver is such a great way to live, you do it.

PS I've never owned a house that was close to 3000 sq ft and don't want one.

[jbg]

The current force raising gasoline prices is lack of refining capacity. Last summer, when crude was $78 USD per barrel, gasoline was about $3.29/US gallon. Now, oil's at around $63, and gasoline's around $3.29 a gallon. In the interim, crude's been as low as $50 and gasoline as low as $2.44 in my area.

Anyone want a refinery in their neighborhood?

[Canuck E Stan]

Actually I drive a Jetta diesel with a manual transmission. I average just over 50 MPG on fuel that is currently $.95 a liter where I live. I'm retired and don't have to commute. What options? If you think that raising a family in a $400,000, 600 sq ft condo in Vancouver is such a great way to live, you do it.

Retired and still raising a family? You're the one living in this condo,I would never do it or even consider Vancouver as a place to retire.Raising a family in a 600 sq. ft. condo? Why would you do that to you and your family? If living in Vancouver means that much to you, then you get what it gives you.

And if you can't figure out how to get out of that situation by cashing out, then you deserve what you got.

[Wilber]

Actually I drive a Jetta diesel with a manual transmission. I average just over 50 MPG on fuel that is currently $.95 a liter where I live. I'm retired and don't have to commute. What options? If you think that raising a family in a $400,000, 600 sq ft condo in Vancouver is such a great way to live, you do it.

Retired and still raising a family? You're the one living in this condo,I would never do it or even consider Vancouver as a place to retire.Raising a family in a 600 sq. ft. condo? Why would you do that to you and your family? If living in Vancouver means that much to you, then you get what it gives you.

And if you can't figure out how to get out of that situation by cashing out, then you deserve what you got.

I don't live in Vancouver and am not raising a family. Why do you continue to think I am talking about myself. Personally, the price of fuel doesn't mean much to me unless I am taking a long trip. If the work is in Vancouver and you say people should live where they work then that would be Vancouver wouldn't it? If you can't afford more than 400K for a home and have to live where you work then you will have to bring up your family in a 600 sq ft condo, won't you? Forget renting, every day more rental apartments are being renovated and turned into condos, even where I live 40 miles from Vancouver. The property is too valuable. If you can't afford 400K for a place to live and the work is in Vancouver, you will have to commute, won't you? Or we can all move to PEI and live on pogey, but then who will pay the pogey if no one is doing the work where the work is?

All our lives depend our society's infrastructure. Wherever you live, every service and essential you depend on, someone either had to bring to you or you will have to go and get it. Our access to and the price of those products and services is directly related to the cost and availability of fuel.

I am continuously amazed by the simplemindedness of those who think any problem can be solved by merely taxing it away.

[scribblet]

Its too simplistic to tell people to move or sell a vehicle. A lot (too many) are in debt up to their eye balls, they can't sell without losing on their vehicle. If they moved closer to where they work, which is likely a city, then they won't be able to afford the higher cost.

One thing I've wondered about is why they don't produce more cars with manual transmissions, its rare to find automatics in Europe.

[bush_cheney2004]

One thing I've wondered about is why they don't produce more cars with manual transmissions, its rare to find automatics in Europe.

Because most people will not buy them. We went through this very same cycle back in the 1970's, but now fewer people even know how to drive with a clutch and manual transmission.

Complaints about gas prices are understandable, but compared to Europe, the situation is not so dire. In fact, hue and cry over gas prices undermines any belief in "green" conservation, so famous for support in Canadian polls.

[B. Max]

The current force raising gasoline prices is lack of refining capacity. Last summer, when crude was $78 USD per barrel, gasoline was about $3.29/US gallon. Now, oil's at around $63, and gasoline's around $3.29 a gallon. In the interim, crude's been as low as $50 and gasoline as low as $2.44 in my area.

Anyone want a refinery in their neighborhood?

Actually there is one not to far away from here, and if you look out the kitchen window and across the field using a set of binoculars you can see a pump-jack working away. In total that field is probably a half section in size. More than enough room for a big refinery, so yeah build it. I bet if they offered free gas to the forty or fifty people that surround it they wouldn't get any objections.

[bush_cheney2004]

Actually there is one not to far away from here, and if you look out the kitchen window and across the field using a set of binoculars you can see a pump-jack working away. In total that field is probably a half section in size. More than enough room for a big refinery, so yeah build it. I bet if they offered free gas to the forty or fifty people that surround it they wouldn't get any objections.

Agreed...there is a large refinery about 5 miles from our house....and city of over 25,000. Many other surrounding cities as well. Great jobs and neighbor.