Drivers across the Peace Region are feeling the pain at the pump, as the price of gas continues to soar.
An increase in prices in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek is adding more pressure on household budgets already stretched by rising costs.
In Fort St. John, gas is averaging $1.99.9 per litre. That number is $0.10 less per litre in Dawson Creek. The price of gas in Chetwynd and in Farmington is $1.79.9.
“That’s the facts of life right now. This is going to be a pretty rough couple of months,” said Roger McKnight, En-Pro International chief petroleum analyst.
The latest spike comes with no end to the U.S.–Iran conflict in sight, and the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
“I can see this whole scenario stretching right through into the early part of 2027,” McKnight told CTV News. “And I don’t know what you can do about it.”
Asked whether drivers can expect anything in terms of provincial support, Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon said the government is looking into what’s possible.
“We have nothing at this point that we can announce,” Kahlon told reporters in Victoria. “We have met – the premier put a cabinet committee together to look at the challenges. We’re looking at everything. Short term, medium term, long term, structural changes so that we can ensure that we’re not in a vulnerable situation like this ever again.”
But the B.C. Conservatives argue a lack of investment in oil and gas infrastructure has exacerbated the crisis.
“We should have a pipeline, we should be looking at refineries, we should be doing all those things, and we’d be in a much better place than we are today,” interim B.C. Conservative Leader Trevor Halford said at the provincial legislature.
McKnight said even if the Strait of Hormuz were opened immediately, gas prices would likely remain elevated for a minimum of two months.
With files from Martin MacMahon CTVNews Vancouver