Nelson Sergerie

GASPÉ – Member of Parliament (MP) for the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands, Diane Lebouthillier, faces mounting pressure to intervene with the Competition Bureau on the high prices of gasoline in the region.

The Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Gaspé, Stéphane Sainte-Croix, sent a letter to his federal counterpart in which he wrote: “You are aware that Gaspesians, in general, pay more for their gasoline than elsewhere in Quebec, even when we compare the price here to other peripheral regions.”

Mr. Sainte-Croix references the recent report from the Régie de l’énergie published at the end of January which mentions that between 2018 and 2023, Gaspesian motorists paid, on average, nearly 4 cents higher per litre than other regions of Quebec.

“The authority’s report offers an in-depth analysis of gasoline price trends in the region and highlights various elements that tend to explain this situation, including the retailer’s margin being higher here than elsewhere,” writes the elected official.

The MNA wants to ensure that the practices of gasoline stores are not “the result of anti-competitive practices, especially since the highest prices are found in the MRCs of Haute-Gaspésie and Rocher-Percé which are the two most devitalized in Quebec.”

Mr. Sainte-Croix also recalls the steps taken last summer with the Competition Bureau with his colleague from Bonaventure, Catherine Blouin, in which the response “did not live up to our expectations.”
A second letter was sent and the response was that “the evidence was not sufficient to rule on the matter and that we would need to provide it to help the Competition Bureau carry out its investigation.”
Mr. Sainte-Croix believes that it is not his responsibility to carry out such an investigation, hence the request to Diane Lebouthillier.

“We ask you to support our approach approved by all local elected officials and citizens to ask the Competition Bureau to investigate. We believe that in your capacity as federal MP and minister, you are the person best placed to help us with our request,” concludes Mr. Sainte-Croix.
In September 2022, Diane Lebouthillier found it unacceptable that retailers were making profits on the backs of Gaspesian motorists.

On the other hand, last July, she made it known that she would not comment on the actions of provincial elected officials, adding that her government was instead working on the electrification of transport.
“I can understand that this is a delicate and complex issue, but it deserves that we take all necessary means to have the most complete idea possible to ensure that Gaspé residents can get the right price,” comments the elected official to the recent assertions of the federal MP.

Despite all the initiatives launched since July, the price of gasoline remains higher in the Gaspé Peninsula than elsewhere in Quebec.

“Prices have a certain stability. But having said that, we are not giving up. We hope that Ms Lebouthillier will contribute to our actions to add some pressure,” underlines Mr. Sainte-Croix.

Diane Lebouthillier will not intervene with the Competition Bureau

In a statement sent by email, she responded to the provincial MNA for Gaspé who asked her to intercede with the office.

Ms. Lebouthillier points out that the organization is independent in the exercise of its functions and cannot therefore be subject to political intervention.

The federal elected official invites anyone who has information about a company or station that colludes to fix prices to report it to the Competition Bureau in complete confidentiality.
Meanwhile, the Competition Bureau visited gas stations in the Lower North Shore and the North Shore during the week of February 5.

In a publication on social networks on February 8, the organization indicates that the objective of the agents was to better understand how gasoline prices are determined and the visit was intended to detect possible anti-competitive behaviour such as fixing prices.

For almost five years, the mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté, has called for an investigation by the Competition Bureau, just like the CAQ elected officials in the region did last summer.

On February 12, the price of gasoline rose to $1.69 in several areas of the Gaspé Peninsula.