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Gas Prices Are Spiking Again — Here's How to Protect Your Wallet as the Iran Conflict Escalates

  Published July 20, 2026 If it feels like you're filling up more often for the same money lately, you're not imagining it. Oil markets jolted higher to start the week, and Canadian drivers are almost certain to see it at the pump in the next few days. What just happened Brent crude — the global benchmark that drives Canadian gas pricing — jumped nearly 4% on Monday to trade above US$90 a barrel, its highest level since mid-June, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate traded near US$84. The move came after the United States and Iran escalated hostilities over the weekend, including strikes on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on an oil facility in Kuwait. That strait matters enormously to your gas bill: roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes through it. When shipping through it slows or stalls, traders price in a "risk premium" almost immediately — and that shows up at Canadian pumps within days, not weeks. What it mea...

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Ontario to Implement 25% Energy Surcharge on U.S. Amid Trade Tensions


Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced that the province will impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the United States starting Monday. This move comes as a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent tariffs on Canadian goods, despite a 30-day pause on tariffs for certain sectors.

The surcharge will affect electricity supplied to three U.S. states—New York, Michigan, and Minnesota—impacting approximately 1.5 million homes and businesses. Premier Ford emphasized that this decision was not taken lightly but is necessary to counteract the economic strain caused by the U.S. tariffs. He also hinted at the possibility of further measures, including restricting electricity exports entirely if the tariffs persist.

The trade dispute has escalated tensions between the two nations, with Canada also implementing retaliatory tariffs on American products. Both Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have expressed their commitment to defending Canadian interests while urging the U.S. to reconsider its stance.

The surcharge highlights the growing economic and political challenges in the cross-border relationship, as both sides navigate the complexities of trade and energy policies.

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