News Sections
Gas prices to stay high for summer: energy board
Font-size:
Share
Print
Comments(56)
CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Wed. May. 28 2008 9:45 PM ET
Canada's National Energy Board has added its voice to the chorus of authorities predicting high gas prices for the summer months.
According to the board's summer outlook released on Wednesday, the price per barrel of crude oil will average at about US$130 per barrel.
The report says supply and demand will continue to stay closely in sync with each other because of:
- the annual increase in usage during summer months
- international conflicts putting supplies at risk
- weakness of the U.S. dollar, resulting in more investment money flowing into commodities such as oil
With oil prices staying high, prices at the pump are sure to do the same, the group's chairman said in a statement.
"Global oil prices continue to rise," wrote Gaetan Caron. "What happens in world crude oil markets this summer will largely determine the price of gasoline in both Canada and the U.S."
On Wednesday, oil was trading at about US$127 per barrel. Last Thursday, it hit a new record, trading above US$135 for part of the day.
The National Energy Board is an independent government agency accountable to Parliament through the minister of natural resources. The board is responsible for regulating international and inter-provincial aspects of the oil, gas and electric utility industries.
According to the board, oil is not the only commodity with a strong future. Natural gas prices have doubled since last fall and are also expected to continue rising. The board predicts they will hover between US$11 and US$13 per million British thermal units this summer.
That could mean increased electricity costs for regions that rely on natural gas-fired electricity production such as Ontario and Alberta.
Despite the high cost of fuel, the agency believes there will be enough electricity available to meet Canada's needs throughout the summer. The possible exception, says the report, could occur during heat waves, when air conditioners are consuming significantly more power than usual.
User Tools
Related Stories
Related Websites
User Tools
About the tools
Need to get in touch with CTV? You can email the CTV web team using the 'Feedback' button.
-


Font-size
Print Article
Comments(56)-
Feedback
Share it with your network of friends
Share this CTV article or feature with your friends. Click on the icon for your favourite social networking or messaging system, and follow the prompts.
Most Viewed News Stories
Most Talked about Stories
Naturally coming on the heels of the Gulf event, this will be jumped on by all involved with both feet and there will be no lack of criticism regardless of who does what. If they had of had it cleaned up within 24 hours, the governor would complain that nobody consulted her on how to do it. A no win situation. I seriously doubt that anyone is deliberately dragging their heels on this, it's too high profile.

Comments are now closed for this story
Paul
said
Roger T
said
Savings comes before the economy!
Jason.
said
The kids will get to see more of the Gatineau area (Outaouais) on bike then us going to the Maritimes or something like that.
Captialism is killing us...
said
Why keeping telling us? Stop that and take action if you think it need to go down.
What a bunch of morons! Wasting our tax money on these Energy Board telling us that prices are to stay high.
Go do something useful.
Aaron in Toronto
said
Logan
said
A term, funnily enough, I first heard on "Corner Gas". Maybe Brent had the right idea!
Ian R. - Milton
said
The government has in its power to reduce these prices and they know it but no one has the will to do do.
They say they will 'lose' tax money that they never had. Put the taxes back to the $0.76 a litre level and they still will be collecting as much as they did 12-18 months ago!
Shame on their greed!
LDL
said
This summer I think I'll travel to "Porta-Backyarda" I may stop half way (Fridgeville) to stretch the legs and pick up some alcoholic refreshments for when I reach my destination.
Brad B
said
Is there a problem? Are prices too high and need to be regulated? Sure. Is it the tax income preventing the government from doing it? I doubt it.
You'll Hate me for this...but
said
While I'll probably be hated for this next statement by all those morons who drive a large truck or SUV:
Maybe - just maybe the Government of Canada and that of the United States of America should immediately implement once again wartime gas rationing.
Do with a very limited amount of gas - or get your fat butts out of the vehicles and ride a bike.
Don't bother to boo hoo about having to travel 50 miles one way to work. I don't care about the fact that you're so stupid as to put yourself into that predickament in the first place.
Lets start rationing GAS today. 10 litres per month..
Doug BC
said
Over the long term, I do think we need a national strategy. But I doubt our provincial leaders can sit in the same room long enough to do it. But, with all of Canada's resources there should be a plan to pay producing provinces the world price, refine our own crude oil, and reduce the taxes that add 35% to the cost of the product. It would be a huge benefit to our manufacturing sector and likely our tourism industry.
Of course, that would require governments to pay down debt to make room for the taxes to go down. And also huge regulations on auto and industrial emmissions.
But for now, the impact on the economy is just beginning. Our family will go camping in Washington State or Oregon this year. I'm sorry for that, but BC is just unaffordable for us, even though we are well enough off to afford a modest vacation. I really feel for those who can't even do that for their kids.
Norm
said
GP
said
The speculators and their partners, the Oil companies, are ripping us off so bad its stupid.
You don't suppose we will ever get a government that will say enough is enough? Ya what ever.
Canadian Kid
said
W.R.Doolittle
said
A H
said
Sadly, Canada also does not have the refining capacity and the States likes to sell us our own gas back at a big profit.
It's time to build a refinery in Canada so we don't need to put the US in the process, put Canada first and then the price might just start coming down.
ken
said
Scott Dyson
said
Craig
said
1. Natural gas is rising because like all other commodities (gold, oil, coal), people are parking thei money there instead of the failing US dollar. This bids the price up. This is in addition to already high demand.
2. Excise taxes are "per litre" anyways. Thus, they are already at the $0.76 level. Governments do not pull in more excise taxes simply because the price is high.
Bernard Romanycia
said
George
said
Isn't it time we talked about breaking from this "world economy" because it's just beginning to shoot us in the foot?
I agree with Obama and Clinton. Open NAFTA and take oil out and keep it for ourselves.
Screw OPEC!
Dixie from Alberta
said
PVT
said
Alberta Roger
said
Big holiday campers, SUVs for sale pretty well says it all. Checked into Global gas prices as follows; Netherlands pays $6.48 US/ gal. and UK pays $5.79/gal US and last but not least Venszuela pays big .12 cents US/gal. Here in Alberta we pay $4.90 per gallon.
I think many people will be walking to work or riding a bike.
Correct me if I am wrong.
Steve
said
Dave in Toronto
said
GLENN R. DUNCAN
said
WE ARE GOING BACK TO 1982. HIGH OIL,HIGHER INFLATION DUE TO HIGH COSTS OF "A" GROUP GOODS
DUE TO TRANSPORT COSTS.HIGHER INTEREST RATES.SHOULD REALLY DO A NUMBER ON OUR ECONOMY.
WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM BASING OIL PRICES ON WEAK U.S.DOLLARS AND
TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN FIRST.I.E."CANADA"
Kyle
said
TO enjoy the Dark Ages.
RH
said
Brent
said
Dean
said
Steve in Ottawa
said
Big Ontario User
said
Candace whose car used to fill up on $19
said
Mike
said
Robin da Hood
said
But remember, the higher they are they harder they'll fall... too bad that its always the little guy who get s screwed in the process though!.. guess that unfettered capitalism for you - nothing but fear and greed.
Well at least the high oil prices may help to slow CO2 emissions and climate change by getting gas guzzlers off the road such as those "Suddenly Useless Vehicles" (SUVs)!.. a silver lining perhaps?
David
said
Ian Yellowknife
said
+
said
Oil drops over 8.00 per barrel, the pumps are still well over 125 a litre and since the oil barrons are making a killing, why would they drop their prices.
Last year when oil prices were over 100.00 a barrel the most we seen was 92 cents.
This oil industry is greedy and pathetic.
By the way, there is NOT one car on the road today that could survive off of 10litres a month. That is not even 3 gallons of gas. Give that idea a shake.
Carol in NB
said
Why can't they grasp the concept that if the prices at the pumps are lowered (by eliminating or reducing the tax), this would mean that people would actually put gas in their vehicles, which would have a domino effect on the economy...tourism...spending, etc. They would still be getting tax revenue (probably more).
But, oh dear...that is SUCH an easy solution. We can't have that now can we. I dare the government to pull it's head out of its butt and set a global example by doing something about it...but then again...we ARE dealing with the wondrous government whom we've all grown to respect and love. Do you honestly think they're going to listen to the people? Doubt it. They would rather listen to the stockholders and investers of the oil commodities than us little lowly Canadians.
It's time for our government to step up to bat and actually start thinking what's better for this country.
Unhappy Camper
said
You manipulate the market with fear and scare tactics and suddenly, ther price of oil will go up creating huge profits for those investors.
It'll take another 10 years, but you watch, they will find that this is the next generation of the Enron scandal. There are reasons for oil to go up and frankly, the reasons for other fuels to go up is crap. Propane at the pump is up 55 cents a litre over 2001 levels. What exactly drives those prices up that high?
This is going to be another Enron scandal and we are all too stupid and lazy to do anything about it.
We get what we deserve in the end. Sadly enough, most of you buy into it.
Nick - Ottawa
said
What he's going to do is tax the big oil companies, who will then adjust their prices to reflect that in order to recoup the costs from the consumer. Sure, taxes won't go up, but the cost of the product will... There's no easy solution to this problem, and being uneducated on the subject I don't have much to offer to the table. Am I going to far in suggesting it might be time we stop exporting so much oil and start refining it ourselves? And it would also be nice to see some refund cheques come our way in Ontario like they get in Alberta and soon in Labrador.... Provinces that were propped up and supported for many years by HAVE provinces, and now that they've struck black gold, they only give their citizens a tax break...nice....good thing we have confederacy in this country.
Ki-Som
said
Julius
said
blacksheep
said
We live 30 miles from town the reason was to get away from all the crime in the city & affortable housing. We are not stupid people as you seem to think I would like to see you use just 10 liters a month.get real
Richard
said
Very curious to know this.
SahibReginawaleAngry
said
Evan in Athabasca (Look it up!!!)
said
Please take a note, that I live in Northern Alberta, I have no public transit and I need a truck as a second vehicle (cannot afford a third vehicle or "men's toys") for the winter when we have 4 foot snow drifts on my drive way and on the highway when I go to work. I would like you to come up with a solution for that!!
Linda
said
And, oddly enough,we need our governments to pay down debt,and lower taxes as quickly as possible. Only then will we be able to undue the trade deal that gives the USA equal access to Canadian energy. Unless we are able to do that they will literally suck Canada dry,and our children will be left with nothing.
Since our jobs and standard of living require export markets to support us,and the vast majority of our exports go to the USA,I don't think we could pull out of NAFT now even if we wanted to.I do think,however,that our kids might be able to.But they need us to expand our markets,make more allies around the world,and pay off the debt we accumulated.At that time,they would have more options.And even if the economy slowed,Canadians would be living off of a vast supply of Canadian resources.We do,after all,have almost everything we need to sustain our population quite nicely.
We should advance to an economy that uses Canadian resources to give us the competetive edge we need to compete in manufacturing anything.
There are some good ideas posted here.But most will take time.I just find it disappointing that our leaders are unable to unite the country by working on a strategy that benefits all of Canada.We must do more than export raw resources if there is to be a future for the next generation.
FN
said
In Europe most countries have a gas tax that accounts for as much as 70% of the cost of gas, which by the way is basically about twice as much as here.
Don't like the price? STOP DRIVING or DRIVE A MORE EFFICIENT VEHICLE!
Fed up with the distribution of wealth
said
JS
said
Trudy
said
DO
said
Vote NDP
said
Sonny
said
Should we continue gorging ourselves on the World's supply then we will be paying through the nose this summer.
The United States hit Peak Oil in the 1970s and now relies in a large part as well as Canada on Middle Eastern Oil despite having a domestic supply.