Gas prices a SCAM? Outrageous!

So…beyond the three gas companies in Quebec, charged with collusion (price fixing), ‘many more’ are being investigated.

“Three companies - Les Pétroles Therrien Inc., which operates under Pétro-T, Distributions pétrolières Therrien Inc. and Ultramar Ltd. - and one person pleaded guilty in Quebec Superior Court after the investigation was made public in June.” (CBC news)

There is alleged ‘Wire-tap evidence’ that is being used to bust companies other than the ones fined over 2 million in June. Well, better late then never, I suppose. I’m proud of Canada for not being completely naïve. While the investigation is concentrated in Quebec, I’m hoping the national news attention tips off authorities in other regions as well. If not, I hope at the very least the hefty fines owed by these petroleum practitioners is incentive for others like them not to cross the line from prices which are simply outrageous, to full out law-breaking.


I think any citizen who does not believe that collusion has been occurring in Canada is simply ignorant. To a minor degree, it is happening every day: there is almost no competition between gas stations: prices rise and fall uniformly across counties, with very little variance seen. This will continue to happen until the prime minister steps in, and either nationalizes the system, or at least institutes some sort of price control system.


People are being scammed, and they’re pissed off.


I was elated to read about the Quebecois gentleman who is suing the accused companies for fixing prices at the pumps. Good things come to those who get furious enough to finally stand up and do something about it.

The exact dollar amount that citizens were cheated out of is unknown, but hopefully this lawsuit will set a precedence in which the oil companies realize the gravity of the situation: the first step is switching to bicycles. The second step is legal action.
The new accused parties will attend court in October; where authorities will decide whether or not to press charges. I imagine more developments will occur, considering the virile nature of the oil industry right now. And if all provincial governments announce investigations...well, wouldn't it be interesting to see what changes at the pump might look like?

And, as an aside...remember when we boycotted buying gas because it was *almost* a dollar a litre? Ahh....


With all of the rage I’m concentrating towards the gas industry, I’m just glad that some action is being taken. There’s not much more to be said other than: I’m satisfied with this.


http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2008/07/21/qc-gaspricefixing0721.html?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a16:g4:r2:c0