Ontario drivers can expect a welcome break at the pumps this week as gas prices are set to fall by roughly 10 cents per litre. Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, says the drop is expected Thursday, thanks to the seasonal switch from the more expensive summer gasoline blend to the cheaper winter blend.
“This is one of the biggest price drops of the year,” McTeague said, urging motorists to buy only what they need until the change takes effect. On a 70-litre fill-up, drivers could save about $7 — or “a few cups of coffee,” as McTeague put it.
The switch to the winter blend, which uses more butane instead of the pricier alkylate in summer gas, happens annually after September 15 and typically results in a noticeable price dip. But while this drop will provide short-term relief, experts say broader market forces have eaten away much of the savings from the federal consumer carbon tax cut earlier this year.
Gas prices in the GTA are hovering around $1.43 per litre, only slightly lower than last year’s $1.48 despite the 20¢-per-litre carbon tax rollback. Higher U.S. gasoline prices, driven by rising demand, along with a weaker Canadian dollar and the federal Clean Fuel Standard (which currently adds 4–5¢ per litre and will climb to nearly 20¢ by 2030), have kept prices elevated.
McTeague recommends filling up in the evenings, when stations often trim margins, for an extra 8¢-per-litre savings. Drivers outside the GTA may also find cheaper prices in smaller towns. Websites like GasWizard.ca and GasBuddy.com can help motorists track the lowest prices near them.