I'm not convinced there's gouging going on, what level do you guys think it's happening on? And how do you think a conspiracy this size has been kept secret considering the number of people that would have to be in on it? Property cost, higher minimum wages, special fuel blends, refinery locations (transport costs to the LM) and government entities collecting $2.4 million from the average gas stations 4,000,000L in sales and other factors pretty much explain it. You put $100 in your tank the station makes $13, the gov makes $60.
Here's an interesting read with an excerpt;
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/metro-vancouvers-gas-stations
So far this year, the retail margin for Vancouver gas stations is 8.4 cents a litre higher than the average in other western Canadian cities. It was 5.9 cents a litre higher in 2018. The Deetken Group found that 1.4 cents a litre of that 8.4-cents-a-litre difference could not be attributed to land or other costs.
Also
The report states that since 2015, the rack price difference between Vancouver and the rest of Western Canada has risen as much as 15 cents a litre.
So from the missing $.014/L the average gas station grosses not nets enough to pay 2 minimum wage workers while the gov collects $2.4 million. If running a gas station earned such fat stacks Esso, Chevron and Husky wouldn't be selling or have sold their **** off. The disparities above don't add up to the difference Lower Mainlanders are paying.
Here's a poor graphic from
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1810000101#timeframe
Vancouver, British Columbia 124.1 119.7 125.6 128.3 115.3 120.6 127.9 125.6 133.9 138.8 134.0 130.1
131.8 137.7 137.4 136.9 141.3 137.2 141.7 144.5 151.4 155.1 159.9 154.3 155.7 150.3 151.9 155.2 141.9 138.5 132.0 134.4 149.6 167.3 169.0 148.4 151.5 148.2 153.6
It shows the average price per liter in Vancouver from July 2016 to current, the red bold month is July 2017, that's NDP time. As a matter of fact on July 17, he actually said
"Our government will offer families relief from high costs and fees, strengthen services like health care and education, and create good jobs and economic opportunity across B.C.," said Horgan in a statement.
Sure you will Johnny Boy, how's that ICBC coming, your lawayer buds still gonna do ok?
One month after their election or whatever you want to call how they took power prices jumped higher than almost the entire previous year and have never gone back below the $1.318/L it was the month they took power. But no it's the dastardly gas stations with their unaccounted for $.014/L or $1.40/100L fill that are gouging.
