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“Nobody can explain to me how they come about their prices. I want to get the decision makers ... and get some answers”, said the minister, criticizing the lack of transparency of the industry’s players.
He says the first step is to ask the appropriate questions and get suitable answers. If necessary, the government will take further measures with the Competition Bureau.
Unfortunately for the minister, not everyone agrees. His initiative was immediately criticized by many, saying it would “amount to nothing” and referencing similar measures taken by the federal government in 2003 that yielded no tangible results.
Former liberal MP Dan McTeague is one of the sceptics. He believes weeks could go by before a committee is formed, while immediate measures can be taken to reduce tax on gas.
That’s one avenue Clement firmly dismissed. According to him, the oil companies would simply fill the gap if taxes were cut.
The Canadian Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (CIPMA) responded by saying it’s the oil supply chain that’s “pulling the wool over consumers’ eyes”. CIPMA spokesperson Tricia Anderson holds that independent gas distributors aren’t to blame, because their retail margins have been “relatively stable for several years”.
Last week, the American government put a team together to ensure consumers are the victims of abusive pricing at the pump.
Source : Toronto Star