Ford and Rickford should take action now to stop gas price gouging in Northern Ontario

TIMMINS – Doug Ford and Energy Minister Greg Rickford should use the tools they have to take action on the price of gasoline in Northern Ontario, said Timmins NDP MPP Gilles Bisson, as gas prices continue to climb during the COVID-19 crisis.

“During the COVID-19 crisis, Northerners are looking to the province to take action to resolve the challenges they are facing," said Bisson. “After two years in government, both Doug Ford and Greg Rickford have had every opportunity to stop gas price gouging in Northern Ontario, but they refused.”

“Ford has only talked about the problem, but words are not enough. Northerners need action,” Bisson said. “Ford and Rickford have my bill in their hands to regulate gas prices in the province which would reduce prices in Northern Ontario. Today there should be no more excuses, no more talk. Northerners simply can’t afford to continue paying higher prices than anyone else in the province, especially during this crisis.”

The NDP’s bill, Fairness in Petroleum Products Pricing Act, 2018, would allow the Ontario Energy Board to regulate the retail price and wholesale mark-up of petroleum products in Ontario. That means that gas prices in Ontario will not fluctuate and could only change once a week. The NDP bill will stop the spikes in gas prices at the pump, and provide relief and stability to drivers in Northern Ontario and right across the province.

“Doug Ford and Greg Rickford need to use all the tools available to them to stabilize prices right now and get to work,” said Bisson. “These are critical and difficult times. It’s no surprise that words aren’t working – the Ford government needs to take action now.”