VICTORIA – With gasoline prices soaring once again, New Democrat Energy Critic John Horgan is calling on all MLAs to support his Retail Petroleum Consumer Protection Act when it is called for second reading debate tomorrow morning.

“Since I first introduced this legislation over two months ago, the Campbell Liberals have sat back and watched while gas prices have increased week after week,” said Horgan, the MLA for Malahat-Juan de Fuca. “The government has a responsibility to explain the price spikes, but so far the Minister of Energy and Mines has refused to listen to British Columbians.”

Horgan’s bill would protect consumers from wildly fluctuating gasoline prices by giving the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) the ability to regulate retail gas prices. The BCUC already regulates other energy products like electricity and natural gas, and gasoline prices are regulated in several other Canadian provinces.

“Like the majority of Canadians, British Columbians believe they are being gouged by big oil companies. Drivers feel in their bones that they are being hosed at the pumps and they want something to be done,” said Horgan. “I hope that MLAs from both sides of the House will stick up for their constituents, rather than telling British Columbians that their interests have to play second fiddle to record profits for big oil companies.”

Gas prices in Victoria hovered around 104 cents when Horgan first introduced his bill at the beginning of March, but by this weekend a litre of gas was selling for up to 122.9 cents. Motorists in Greater Vancouver were paying 127.5 cents per litre on Saturday. Meanwhile, in Toronto gas prices remain much cheaper, at 101.9 cents a litre.

“Consumers in British Columbia are paying almost 26 cents more than our counterparts in Toronto. It’s beyond curious. If nothing else the Campbell Liberals should explain why central Canadians get such a break,” said Horgan. “The oil and gas industry has become increasingly concentrated into a few large, wildly profitable corporations, and consumers know that just doesn’t cut it. Oil companies are raking in record profits, and those profits are coming straight out of our pockets.”

Opposition Private Members’ bills can only be called for debate on select Monday mornings.