Quebec to revisit gasoline prices in Gaspé
Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist
GASPÉ—While the price of a litre of regular gasoline has gradually declined over the summer throughout the Gaspé Peninsula and elsewhere in Quebec, the Gaspé region has bucked the trend, with gasoline selling for $1.57 per litre for several weeks.
Meanwhile, gasoline sold for $1.49 in the Chandler region, just over 100 kilometres from Gaspé, on August 13. A litre was selling for around $1.50 in Baie-des-Chaleurs, $1.54 in Haute-Gaspésie and $1.51 in Matane and Rimouski.
This observation prompted the Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Gaspé, Stéphane Sainte-Croix to question the profit margins charged by gas retailers in the region. According to data from the Régie de l’énergie, the profit margin was 19.3 cents on August 13 in Gaspé, compared to 13 cents in Baie-des-Chaleurs and 11.5 cents in Rocher-Percé.
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government is looking into this issue. Stéphane Sainte-Croix is already discussing it with the Minister of Energy.
“We have already begun discussions on this issue in light of what we are seeing this summer. As it is well documented in the region, I am using this to make my case. Yes, we will take up the fight again in the future,” says the MNA.
When asked about the nearly 10-cent difference between Gaspé and Chandler, Mr. Sainte-Croix points out that the price floor was abolished to stimulate competition.
“Clearly, there is still a long way to go here,” says Mr. Sainte-Croix.
“In terms of profit margins, there may be an explanation behind this phenomenon that largely accounts for the difference between Gaspé and other areas of the Gaspé Peninsula,” he comments in a brief analysis.
Back in July, the mayor of Gaspé was unable to explain the price difference between Gaspé and Chandler.
“It’s a sign that there is a lack of competition,” said Daniel Côté, calling once again on the Competition Bureau to do its job.
Last September, the Competition Bureau concluded that there was no collusion in the Gaspé Peninsula to fix gasoline prices.
The bureau stated at the time that “combating anti-competitive behaviour in the gasoline sector is a priority for the Bureau. It is for this reason that our investigators visited several regions of Quebec to better understand how gasoline prices are determined. These visits took place in eastern Quebec, including the Gaspé Peninsula, on July 18, 2024.”
“To date, the information obtained has not allowed us to demonstrate the presence of anti-competitive activities in the retail gasoline sector,” the office noted, recalling that its role is to investigate price fixing and other anti-competitive behaviour.
As an enforcement agency, the office does not have the authority to regulate gasoline prices. That task falls to the Quebec government, the federal agency added.
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