Gas price: do drivers deserve rebates?
I’m hearing radio discussions as well as this CBC piece on whether drivers should get a rebate on rising gasoline prices.
Why should the government effectively subsidize oil companies?
If you’re going to subsidize gasoline, why not subsidize groceries and rent?
Time for a Universal Basic Income?
Blork 17:04 on 2026-03-16 Permalink
Yeah, that was my reaction too, but I think the idea of a rebate is based on the fact that a big part of that gasoline price is from taxes, so as prices go up so do tax revenues, and some people might see that as exploitative on the government’s part. I suppose the thinking is that by lowering the RATE of taxes they’d still get the same net amount while giving gas consumers a break.
Personally, I think it’s a silly idea, especially at the levels we’re talking about. The gas has only gone up by 15 or 20 cents a litre, and the price is yo-yo-ing like crazy. Don’t forget that during the pandemic is was over $2.20 a litre for a while.
Anecdote: on Friday morning I gassed up at $1.75 a litre. Two hours later I went by the same gas station and it was down to $1.68. Many people I know would be stamping their feet and crying foul over that, but if I do the math it amounts to a difference of about three bucks. Big deal. (It would be triple or more if I had an enormous truck with a gigantic fuel tank, but maybe people who drive those need to question their choices. People who actually need to haul things notwithstanding.)
Tim S. 17:11 on 2026-03-16 Permalink
With all the disruptions coming up, I think the government(s) need all the revenue they can get at the moment. As transportation and fertilizer prices increase, they may not have a choice but to start subsidizing groceries, in one form or another, anyways.
Kevin 17:13 on 2026-03-16 Permalink
If the price of bread and milk were on giant billboards, people would get upset about those too.
The way out is to not choose a life based on the variable pricing of something whose supply is completely out of your hands.
Bloomberg has had several articles in the past week about how the price for large batteries has dropped considerably in the past 4 years, making EV cars (and home batteries! Apartment solar!) much more affordable.
Kate 17:28 on 2026-03-16 Permalink
There used to be a Couche-Tard around the corner that posted their price of milk on a pole outside. I never buy the stuff, so I never had much basis of comparison.
Ian 22:40 on 2026-03-16 Permalink
When I was a kid in Ontario the big chain Mac’s Milk used to post their milk prices alongside gas prices