Gas prices are again closing in on record highs across the country, and the Maritimes are no exception.
New Brunswick drivers awoke to a jump of nearly five cents per litre at the pumps, with self-serve regular costing just over $1.40 in some areas.
Similar increases are expected tomorrow in Nova Scotia and drivers on Prince Edward Island will likely pay more Saturday when prices are adjusted there.
The rise at the pumps is causing a rise in customers.
“I don’t know where they’ll draw the line at,” says one Halifax driver.
“I think it’s ridiculous. I think it’s robbery,” says another.
This time last year, the maximum price of self-serve regular in New Brunswick was 11 cents less than it is today, while Islanders paid five cents less per litre.
The most significant jump is in Nova Scotia where, if prices follow suit, drivers were paying 16.7 cents less per litre one year ago.
Oil companies are blaming the price spike on instability in the Middle East and on hurricanes along the Gulf Coast of the United States, but others say the real culprit is corporate greed.
“It is almost a monopoly. It’s an oilopoly,” says driver Gary O’Meara. “You have a few companies setting the prices they want to set and you have a number of speculators in the market driving prices up for no other reason than to make money in the market, and they are not even legitimate buyers of the product.”
“I am sure there is some truth to some increases, but probably not all,” says cab driver Terry Morier. “Especially right now, everything has slowed down. The economy isn’t exactly the greatest.”
“Rich gets richer, poor gets poorer,” says cab driver Ali Roshani. “Gas companies have no responsibility to justify what they are doing. It’s an absolute crime.”
Motorists were seen lining up at the pumps late Thursday afternoon in Halifax, in anticipation of an overnight spike in Nova Scotia.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl
