A seven-cent drop in the price of gas Thursday should provide some relief to drivers, said one energy analyst, who predicts the decline in prices will not be permanent.
“I think it’s probably as good as it gets for now,” said Dan McTeague, of Canadians for Affordable Energy.
“I don’t see these prices holding much lower for too long.”
Some motorists at a Pioneer station at Gerrard and Main Sts. stopped short of filling up Wednesday once they heard they could get a better deal Thursday.
“I might be getting a deal, I don’t know,” said Sitara De Gagne, as she began to fill her tank.
She changed her mind once she learned of the price drop.
“Should I stop? I think I’ll stop,” she said. “I don’t need it, need it. I am not empty. So I will wait.”
Like most drivers, she has been bewildered by wild swings in price.
A year ago, gas in the GTA was $1.37 a litre, according to GasWizard.ca.
It has recently been as high as $2.15 a litre.
“It was hard to stomach,” De Gagne said. “It’s sort of the way the world is right now.”
Martin Thort only put in $8 worth of gas in his vehicle Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s totally outrageous,” he said. “I work for myself, so I do everything totally local now. I don’t drive too far. It’s not worth it. I don’t even go out to Mississauga or Brampton. I just do everything local.”
A provincial gas tax cut brought some relief when it kicked in July 1 for six months.
Ken McCaulay argued that added measures are warranted.
“I’m surprised our local government or federal government hasn’t tried to control the nonsense that goes on. These prices jump around crazily from day to day,” said McCaulay.
“One morning I pay a $1.78 — and the next morning, it’s $2.04. It’s crazy.”
Mike Barbetta — a contractor who commutes regularly from North Bay — said he cannot pass along the increase to his customers.
“Gas to me is like air,” he said.
“The impact has been radical on my lifestyle with the gas prices. You have to understand that whatever the price is here in Toronto, add 20 cents a litre by the time you get to North Bay.”
McTeague said early indications are that prices could drop another cent Friday at midnight.
slaurie@postmedia.com
@_ScottLaurie
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