Are gasoline prices regulated in other Canadian provinces?
Under the Canadian constitution, provinces have jurisdiction to regulate prices if they choose. Currently, gasoline prices are regulated in Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and, to a lesser extent, Quebec. Effective July 1, 2006, gasoline prices have been regulated in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, primarily for the purpose of providing price stability The Ontario government believes attempting to control the price of fuel by legislation could put upward pressure on prices, which is bad for consumers. Imposing a price freeze, as the government did in 1975, could make the situation worse by draining Ontario of gasoline as U.S. marketers come and buy our lower-priced fuel. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Ontario would not be able to restrict exports of gasoline to the U.S. to protect domestic supplies.
