The Minister of Economy and Energy Pierre Fitzgibbon sent the federal competition authorities a report on the price of gasoline in Quebec in order to determine whether there is collusion between retailers to establish the prices charged at the pump.
This document, which Mr. Fitzgibbon became aware of last week, was produced by an auditor commissioned by the government last November.
“We must look at the Competition Bureau to see if there are grounds for prosecution for collusion,” the minister declared in the House on Wednesday. The report that was received was sent to Ottawa because it is Ottawa, the Competition Bureau, which takes these measures, if the measure is appropriate. »
In a press briefing, Mr Fitzgibbon said he is personally unable to conclude whether or not there is collusion.
“If there is collusion, it’s hard, I won’t conclude that,” he said. We see that there are movements, that there are regions where margins have increased in all species. »
Last fall, Mr. Fitzgibbon had already sent the Competition Bureau Canada a first report, this one drawn up by the Régie de l’énergie, on the subject of gasoline prices in the Quebec region.
The minister then met with the main retailers in the sector and then commissioned an expert. Its findings, which affect the whole of Quebec, were also transmitted to representatives of the federal authority.
“They had the original report and they have this report too so we will let them do their work,” he said Wednesday, specifying that the most recent document will be made public within ten days.
Transparency
Mr. Fitzgibbon is currently reviewing the recommendations of the latest report to determine what the Quebec government can do. The minister did not rule out opting for the tabling of a bill.
“I think I will come up with two or three recommendations which will demonstrate that the government is very sensitive to the price of gasoline at the pump in the context,” he said in the House. And, at the same time, the federal government will be able to decide whether there are legal measures that should be taken. »
In the meantime, the Régie de l’énergie is currently working on a way to improve transparency on gasoline prices and the profit margins that retailers pocket at the pump.
“You have to be a digital gymnast to go and look at the Régie de l’énergie website. It’s not easy, they recognize it, they are working on that,” declared the minister.
According to Mr. Fitzgibbon, information on gasoline prices could be presented in a simpler way by the regulator.
“If on Monday morning, you saw the price of gasoline stores in your region, there would be quite strong pressure. We could also see if there is a simultaneous movement, rising prices. »
In October, the Régie de l’énergie noted that the average estimated net retail margin of service stations in the National Capital increased from 4.0 cents per liter to 10.27 cents per liter in two years. Previously below the average for all of Quebec, the estimated net retail margins of the Capitale-Nationale have been above the average for the rest of Quebec since 2021, the report indicated.