Gas prices jumped by 5.2 cents per litre in New Brunswick this week, bringing the new maximum price of regular self-serve to $1.37 per litre.
The latest spike means gas prices have increased by 10.5 cents per litre in the last two weeks in New Brunswick.
Nova Scotia motorists also saw a jump at the pumps Friday after the provincial Utility and Review Board increased the price of regular self-serve by 3.9 cents per litre, bringing the new maximum price to $1.39 per litre in the Halifax area. Those living in rural communities can expect to pay a little more.
“There’s no sense in complaining about it,” says one Fredericton motorist. “Just pay for it and be happy you can drive your car.”
Local residents may have come to accept skyrocketing gas prices and regulation, but tourists are noticing the high prices at the pumps.
“We’re used to paying about $3.30 a gallon for it and I understand y’all are about twice as expensive than we are at home,” says Keith Loper who is visiting from Texas. “Seemed like a bit of a monopoly to me.”
Gas prices are rising across Canada but the four Atlantic provinces and Quebec are the only provinces in Canada where prices are regulated.
“I’ve certainly noticed there wasn’t much of a difference from station to station,” says Alexander Hariton, who is visiting from Quebec.
The tourism industry is keeping a close eye on pump prices this summer, along with weather and the Canadian dollar.
“An increase is never positive,” says Ronald Drisdelle of the New Brunswick Tourism Industry Association.
“When we’re talking about tourism and vacation, people still need to get away and they need a change of scenery. They just might plan their vacation differently.”
Loper says he has made an effort not to fill up his gas tank in New Brunswick.
“It’s just been one of those things where we’ve been fortunate enough to gas up before we left Bangor and came this way. We haven’t had to as of yet and hopefully we won’t.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore
