Oil companies control gas prices
To the Editor,
Re: Gas price reflects other costs, Letters, June 19.
Is Paul McDowell working for the oil cartel of Canada?
Gas prices no more reflect on the cost of crude oil than the price of milk on the cost of grass for the cows.
If they did, then the prices would fluctuate according to those changes. But what actually happens? The prices jump around without any justifiable reason.
And what is even more astounding, they change at every station at the same time, but not at all stations in Canada at the same time.
Who, or what, controls this pricing?
Not supply and demand. If gas prices were truly controlled by supply and demand, then large cities like Toronto would pay much more than smaller locations as the demand is much higher there.
It is not controlled by the price of crude oil. It is noticeable that when the price of gas goes up, it jumps several cents. But when it comes down, it is by a cent or two each time.
It is also not controlled by maintenance work at some refineries. There is always preparation by oil companies storing enough gas to get past this situation.
The oil companies are the only ones that could make such price changes.
And unfortunately for the consumers, the federal government is based in the oil-rich province of Alberta so it continues to allow this cartel to work.
J. Sharpe
Nanaimo
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