Many complain about the excessive prices at the pump and the inequalities in the Gaspé area, so representatives of the region have turned to the competition office.
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Catherine Blouin, MNA for Bonaventure, and Stéphane Sainte-Croix, MNA for Gaspé, are calling on the competition authority to launch an investigation to determine whether petrol is overpriced in the region.
They denounce the large price differences in several sectors of the Gaspé. In Chandler, Gaspé and Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, residents pay an average of $1.79 per liter, while prices elsewhere are about 4 cents cheaper.
Elected officials want answers about the different prices in their area, but also want to know why prices vary so much compared to other regions.
“We are facing an injustice in the region,” denounced the prefect of the MRC de la Haute-Gaspésie, Guy Bernatchez. In 2023 I was in Chicoutimi and the price was 14 cents per liter cheaper than in Gaspésie. i want to know why
The person who wrote the letter to the competition office, Catherine Blouin, explains that this is an unacceptable situation.
“For this reason I sent a letter […] to ask questions and to denounce this situation. I also intend to contact the MP as this is the responsibility of her level of government and I appeal to her cooperation to help us with this matter,” she said.
Remember that in 2019 the mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Blouin, also called for an investigation to be carried out. However, no one responded to his request.
For its part, the Competition Office tells us that it will take the necessary measures if it finds evidence of anti-competitive behavior.