Canadians consumed an average of 111 million litres of gasoline every day in 2004, according to preliminary figures released by Statistics Canada.

In total, Canadians bought just over 40.3 billion litres of fuel last year, surpassing the 40-billion-litre mark for the first time, the government agency reported Wednesday.

That was a 1.4 per cent increase from 2003, and up 16.7 per cent from 1994.

The agency says consumption rose every year between 1994 and 2004, except for 2001, when it declined 0.1 per cent.

The fuel, consisting of all grades, was purchased for use in vehicles, on farms, for construction or other off-road uses, Statscan reported.

"Motorists in the two most populous provinces, Ontario and Quebec combined, accounted for about 60 per cent of Canada's fuel consumption last year," the agency says.

"Ontario drivers consumed the highest amount, 15.7 billion litres, or 39 per cent of the total, while those in Quebec purchased 8.4 billion litres, or 21 per cent. Drivers in Alberta accounted for nearly 13 per cent of total sales."

Consumption in Ontario last year was 22.9 per cent higher than it was a decade earlier and well above the national average of 16.7 per cent.

Nationally, gross sales of gasoline fuel peaked in July and August at 3.6 billion litres each month, an increase Statscan linked to the summer holiday season.

The agency says consumption rose in spite of soaring prices over the years.

According to Statscan, average prices per litre for regular unleaded gasoline at self-service stations were: 55.2 cents in Montreal, 49.8 cents in Toronto and 45.4 cents in Edmonton.

By 2004, the average price had gone up too 85.8 cents in Montreal, 76.7 cents in Toronto and 75.9 cents in Edmonton.

Parliament opened earlier this week with opposition MPs demanding action from the government on the rising costs of fuel.

After heated questions, the government agreed to establish a national body to monitor gas prices.

"We'll ensure that we do put in place a mechanism for monitoring gas and home heating fuel prices in the months ahead," said Industry Minister David Emerson.

Emerson did not provide details about when the body would be in place or whether it would have the regulatory power to lower gas prices.