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Gas Is Still $1.81 a Litre: Why Pump Prices Won't Fall (and What to Do Before Winter)

  Canadians hoping for relief at the pump got bad news heading into this week: it isn't coming soon. The national average for regular gas was $1.81 a litre on Friday, according to Kalibrate, with provincial averages ranging from $1.557 in Alberta to $2.156 in Newfoundland, per GasBuddy. That's after a big policy move. On Friday the G7 announced plans to release 100 million barrels of oil right away, starting with diesel. Brent crude dipped on the news, then climbed back to about US$102 a barrel by the afternoon. Don't expect the release to show up at your station, because crude is only half the story. Crude oil explains only half your pump price Wood Mackenzie's Jim Mitchell says crude makes up 50 to 60 per cent of the retail price of gas. The rest is the cost of refining it, and that's where the squeeze is. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem pointed to damaged refining capacity worldwide in a Sept. 21 speech, noting that pump prices reflect crude roughly US$40 a ...

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How Enbridge, Open Text and other stocks moved on Wednesday


The stock market saw some notable movements on Wednesday, as several companies reported their earnings or made strategic announcements. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Enbridge (ENB-T) rose 1.2 per cent after it forecast higher core earnings and raised its dividend for 2024. The pipeline operator expects higher demand and volumes across its network, as well as lower costs and capital spending. The company also said it had secured funding for over 75 per cent of its US$9.4-billion bid to buy three utilities from Dominion Energy.
  • Open Text (OTEX-T) increased 1 per cent after it sold off a mainframe-computer business it acquired earlier this year from Micro Focus for US$2.275-billion. The company said it would use the proceeds to improve its financial position and focus on its cloud and artificial intelligence businesses. Analysts said the divestiture would enhance Open Text’s valuation and profitability.
  • Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD-T) slid 3.2 per cent despite reporting stronger-than-expected second-quarter results The convenience store and gas station operator saw solid fuel margins and cost control, but also faced softening in U.S. same-store sales due to lower cigarette sales and consumer spending. The company tightened its full-year profit outlook.
  • First Quantum Minerals (FM-T) sustained further declines after Panama’s president said its copper mine Cobre Panama would be shut down, following a Supreme Court ruling that declared its contract unconstitutional The company said it had suspended commercial production at the mine and was putting it into care and maintenance. The ruling puts the company on the long and unpredictable road of international arbitration.

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