TIMMINS - Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus has written to Canada's Competition Bureau to investigate potential gouging and price fixing regarding northern gasoline prices. In a letter to Interim Commissioner Matthew Boswell, Angus says prices in the north continue to soar and citizens are frustrated with their inability to find any competitive prices from the major chains.
He says the high gas prices require an investigation because it has a huge impact on the bottom line of northern families.
"Spikes in gas prices has an enormous impact on our region, which is large and sparsely populated. Many people rely on a fair marketplace in fuel to sustain their livelihoods, and do not have the luxury of fallback options like public transit in large parts of the North."
Angus says the potential for price fixing among "competitors" or gouging during weekend and holiday times is obvious. And yet the Competition Bureau has up until now refused to look into any of the allegations.
"It is not credible for the Competition Bureau to throw the responsibility for gathering evidence back on the citizens. Northerners are feeling frustrated by this lack of response from the government agency tasked with investigating and enforcing breaches of competition law."
Angus has written to the Competition Bureau on numerous occasions over the years. He says he will keep pushing the Bureau to take this issue seriously.
"Canadians rely on the Competition Bureau to ensure fair market competition and peace of mind in the marketplace. I am asking the Bureau to investigate this ongoing issue in Northern Ontario."
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