Canada targets gasoline pumps amid price worries

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Wednesday, July 23, 2008 7:11:38 PM

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GasBuddy News Article

Canada targets gasoline pumps amid price worries Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Reuters UK -- OTTAWA, May 12 (Reuters) - Canada's Conservative government says it can't do anything about the high price of gasoline but on Monday it promised to make sure consumers get what they pay for when they fuel up their cars. Industry Minister Jim Prentice told Parliament he wants to impose fines of C$10,000 ($10,000) on gas retailers that overcharge customers due to faulty pumps, instead of the current fine of C$1,000, and make pump inspections mandatory every two years. He has asked the agency responsible for inspecting retail gas stations, Measurements Canada, to prepare regulatory changes for later this year and to intensify inspections over the summer.
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	Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Reuters UK -- OTTAWA, May 12 (Reuters) - Canada's Conservative government says it can't do anything about the high price of gasoline but on Monday it promised to make sure consumers get what they pay for when they fuel up their cars. Industry Minister Jim Prentice told Parliament he wants to impose fines of C$10,000 ($10,000) on gas retailers that overcharge customers due to faulty pumps, instead of the current fine of C$1,000, and make pump inspections mandatory every two years. He has asked the agency responsible for inspecting retail gas stations, Measurements Canada, to prepare regulatory changes for later this year and to intensify inspections over the summer. Visit Reuters UK for full article

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PenDoctrJD Champion Author Orange County Posts:2,798 Points:1,259,240 Joined:Aug 2001	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 10:52:56 AM	Ignore PenDoctrJD Report Abuse
	go get 'em
EarlyMoose Champion Author Seattle Posts:1,354 Points:593,265 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 10:03:21 AM	Ignore EarlyMoose Report Abuse
	I like how everyone says, "we can't do anything to help."
boniface4jesus Rookie Author Gary Posts:40 Points:10,275 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:56:08 AM	Ignore boniface4jesus Report Abuse
	I hope they check them more often there, and here, and not like the health department's surprise visits to restaurants, where we apparently are tipped off in advance, that they are on their way.
blairsgrove All-Star Author Toronto Posts:526 Points:149,305 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:55:19 AM	Ignore blairsgrove Report Abuse
	about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
colrhino Veteran Author Atlanta Posts:329 Points:101,070 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:54:08 AM	Ignore colrhino Report Abuse
	the least the gov't can do is ensure that the consumer receives what he or she pays for at the pump....
hangupanddrive Veteran Author Michigan Posts:275 Points:831,665 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:48:48 AM	Ignore hangupanddrive Report Abuse
	Worked for a gas station owner in my college years. They DO make little profit!! Its the oil companies making the big bucks! In fact, in later years the oil company I worked for ran my old gas station owner right out of business by excessive rent increases. The oil company simply wanted the station back in their total control and turn it into a Speedway. The days of mom and pop stations with repair facilities was on its way out.
acknot Veteran Author Seattle Posts:354 Points:536,810 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:48:14 AM	Ignore acknot Report Abuse
	Fine? What do you mean fine? Shut them down! Or at least inspect the pumps every six months.
Gerund1 All-Star Author Toronto Posts:681 Points:770,520 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:41:39 AM	Ignore Gerund1 Report Abuse
	Its bad enough that we are being reamed on gas prices. If it can be proven that we are also being reamed by the pumps it just shows that the profit motive cares little for others.
esquared All-Star Author Oklahoma City Posts:993 Points:547,675 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:41:14 AM	Ignore esquared Report Abuse
	Can't do or won't do?
rockinrog Veteran Author Ontario Posts:414 Points:570,800 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:35:14 AM	Ignore rockinrog Report Abuse
	Like will hear about these fines being levied.
Japsmith All-Star Author Tacoma Posts:838 Points:158,740 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:31:26 AM	Ignore Japsmith Report Abuse
	As long as these gas retailers make more than $10,000 before they get caught I doubt anything will change. All is profit beyond the $10K they pocket for overcharging.
ariccougar Rookie Author Utah Posts:86 Points:9,345 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:30:06 AM	Ignore ariccougar Report Abuse
	They should do this in the USA. I dont trust gas station owners. They are always saying how they dont make enough money. And then realize that no one would know the difference if they "modified" the amount of fuel per gallon for a week or 2, it would definitely be an easy scam and could be widespread!
Egor All-Star Author Regina Posts:996 Points:505,140 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:25:41 AM	Ignore Egor Report Abuse
	That's going to do. There is probably very little problem at the pumps. But we are going to have to fund it with tax payer money. Thanks to the government we get to pay even more.
MacGyver_1701 Champion Author Indiana Posts:4,804 Points:1,058,850 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:24:19 AM	Ignore MacGyver_1701 Report Abuse
	accuracy inspections are critical at todays prices.
The_WB Champion Author Detroit Posts:3,138 Points:366,875 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:23:31 AM	Ignore The_WB Report Abuse
	Tweaking is always a problem.
kingdick Champion Author Minnesota Posts:17,520 Points:1,408,220 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:18:36 AM	Ignore kingdick Report Abuse
	In Minnesota I filled a 5 gallon gas can with 5.98 gallons on Monday. I reported it to the state and was told that I must have a miss marked gas can. But before this time it always took 5 gallons to fill it. Bad Pump. Bad State Regulation. Not just in Canada.
copperhead8 Champion Author Boston Posts:4,515 Points:1,087,445 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:16:33 AM	Ignore copperhead8 Report Abuse
	I hope it works
RochBear Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,160 Points:399,950 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:15:53 AM	Ignore RochBear Report Abuse
	I still think a honnest station manager, would want to check his pumps on a regular basis, and then post that he has Honnest pumps as a sales promotion. You get what you pay for - No more, no less. The Bible even says, you should have honnest scales. And "Honnesty is the best policy". It just makes good business sense.
krmack All-Star Author Illinois Posts:590 Points:92,510 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:14:13 AM	Ignore krmack Report Abuse
	The taxes we pay for this government sector is already in place.
DST43 Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:1,610 Points:284,850 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:09:01 AM	Ignore DST43 Report Abuse
	they shouldn't have to take such measure as that if people was honest be we all know that is not the case...
McNasties Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:3,830 Points:733,825 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:07:01 AM	Ignore McNasties Report Abuse
	They can't even enforce their simple immigration laws. How can their legal system be taken seriously?
laddyboy62 All-Star Author Riverside Posts:980 Points:875,635 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:06:04 AM	Ignore laddyboy62 Report Abuse
	well jeez...that makes sense...supposed to get what we pay for
glazarides Veteran Author Akron Posts:299 Points:313,390 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:02:49 AM	Ignore glazarides Report Abuse
	I've seen stories here in the States where station owners will make the pumps give less gas then they show and pay the fine because they still make a heck of a profit! The governments should throw in mandatory jail time, after all they are stealing!
phatride92 Champion Author Kansas Posts:3,147 Points:820,725 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 9:00:50 AM	Ignore phatride92 Report Abuse
	this action should have been in place before now!
kaaato Rookie Author Boston Posts:52 Points:58,965 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:59:45 AM	Ignore kaaato Report Abuse
	They can fine all they want - it will just be passed on to us!!
rod1965 Veteran Author Portland Posts:273 Points:27,890 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:54:17 AM	Ignore rod1965 Report Abuse
	How about fining the oil companies too. They could help stop this by lowering prices and taking the hit.
radrunner All-Star Author Toronto Posts:642 Points:946,515 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:53:51 AM	Ignore radrunner Report Abuse
	the gov't. can't do anything because it doesn't want to.
kanmandoo All-Star Author Detroit Posts:733 Points:796,490 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:51:27 AM	Ignore kanmandoo Report Abuse
	I hope thats per pump, not per station!!!!!!!!!!!!!
spunky4443 All-Star Author Washington Posts:554 Points:338,175 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:49:13 AM	Ignore spunky4443 Report Abuse
	They could fix the problem in Canada, if they wanted to, its just greed by the Gas Stations owners now.
brian77nc Rookie Author Durham Posts:37 Points:29,305 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:49:10 AM	Ignore brian77nc Report Abuse
	Right on, brother!
C5vette2004 All-Star Author Little Rock Posts:500 Points:136,465 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:46:22 AM	Ignore C5vette2004 Report Abuse
	again... words
scrounger Champion Author Vancouver Posts:5,705 Points:1,571,185 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:45:45 AM	Ignore scrounger Report Abuse
	should be fines of a $1,000,000.00!!!!
AC-302 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:7,052 Points:1,197,700 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:43:55 AM	Ignore AC-302 Report Abuse
	Of course, the pump COULD be wrong the other way.. that is, dispensing more than is registered. But truthfully, how often does that happen? Be in US or Canada, station owners sometimes cheat us.
Sealer Champion Author Charleston Posts:1,713 Points:187,480 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:41:50 AM	Ignore Sealer Report Abuse
	What's the fine for undercharging customers? That's equally likely.
Gassie1 Champion Author Akron Posts:3,794 Points:447,660 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:37:34 AM	Ignore Gassie1 Report Abuse
	A cheating pump should result in free gasoline for those cheated!
Dancin Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,083 Points:1,097,910 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:36:56 AM	Ignore Dancin Report Abuse
	There is no indication of who to direct complaints to. If we suspect a pump is out of tolerance, how do we direct Measurement Canada ? What is the reporting mechanism ?
rjb21760 Veteran Author Chicago Posts:466 Points:343,035 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:35:17 AM	Ignore rjb21760 Report Abuse
	A government agency doing their job and earning their keep, how novel.
bug27 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,368 Points:1,055,700 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:33:49 AM	Ignore bug27 Report Abuse
	Why are they just now inspecting/calibrating the pumps?
Viper1_00 Sophomore Author Worcester Posts:201 Points:62,625 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:33:48 AM	Ignore Viper1_00 Report Abuse
	Good for them
tobasco Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,622 Points:737,365 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:32:40 AM	Ignore tobasco Report Abuse
	That is the least they can do.
marbljk Sophomore Author Alabama Posts:107 Points:910,970 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:29:24 AM	Ignore marbljk Report Abuse
	Should've done that years ago.
artgirl02 Rookie Author Illinois Posts:16 Points:27,620 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:29:10 AM	Ignore artgirl02 Report Abuse
	lets move to Canada
TerryLee Champion Author Ohio Posts:8,375 Points:1,524,940 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:27:38 AM	Ignore TerryLee Report Abuse
	OLD OLD
throttle Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,982 Points:905,375 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:24:49 AM	Ignore throttle Report Abuse
	old news
WillyG Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,068 Points:407,345 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:22:26 AM	Ignore WillyG Report Abuse
	What a novel idea !
Brockvillian Veteran Author Ontario Posts:272 Points:244,370 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:22:11 AM	Ignore Brockvillian Report Abuse
	Make the fine higher like $100,000 that should keep most retailers in line and on top of their pump accuracy. :)
Somis1 Champion Author Ventura Posts:4,273 Points:957,075 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:22:04 AM	Ignore Somis1 Report Abuse
	I thought pumps everywhere were checked for accuracy...
JB1881 Champion Author New Mexico Posts:1,034 Points:283,885 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:18:38 AM	Ignore JB1881 Report Abuse
	Good for them?
HockeyLady All-Star Author New Jersey Posts:736 Points:823,380 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:17:23 AM	Ignore HockeyLady Report Abuse
	what a novel thought--protecting the consumer
imcruizn Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,487 Points:745,070 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: 5/14/2008 8:17:19 AM	Ignore imcruizn Report Abuse
	they need to