Students who commute to Durham College are feeling the effects of recent gas price increases, despite the federal government dropping the 10-cent-per-litre excise tax.
Gas prices have been steadily increasing since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli strikes in late February.
Ontario started to see the price of gas increase in early March from 133/L, with prices expected to continue steadily rising above $1.86 in early April and heading into exam season for students.
According to a 2019 study about student transportation by the University of Toronto, roughly one in three students in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA) commute daily.
These prices are hitting especially close to home alongside inflation that has already been a challenge for college students this year.
Jay Austin, a second-year Welding Engineering Technician student at the Whitby campus, said they’re feeling “terrible,” adding the price of gas is “insane,” especially with their last semester quickly coming to an end.
Austin said they’re paying significantly more for gas than before. “Now it will be close to, I think, like $1.20 or $1.30, $1.40 to fill it up. something in that range, which is just insane.”
They also mentioned the struggle of paying for gas and parking at the Whitby campus and noted the impact it’s having on daily their spending.
“I need gas. I go put $20 in, I only get 10 litres. And then I also have to pay for parking, which is $14. I’m down almost $35 in one day, just trying to get to school and parking,” said Austin, calling it both “unreasonable and unfair.”
According to Kris Hornburg, deputy general manager of Business for Durham Region Transit (DRT), those who take the bus don’t have to worry about any potential increases in fares.
“We find ways to try to reduce in other areas,” he said. “The thing that we always try to do last is impact service.”
Hornburg said gas prices are not something that typically influences the price of fares because DRT buys a year’s worth of fuel at a time.
Patrick De Haan, a petroleum analyst with GasBuddy.com, said he doesn’t expect gas prices to drop until there’s more certainty around the Strait of Hormuz reopening.
“I really don’t think that there’s going to be any meaningful downturn at price until there’s some sort of clarity on the Strait of Hormuz reopening.”
Due to Canada’s fuel prices being dictated by the global market, there is little chance that Canadian’s will see gas prices drop within the near future.
He also advised students to use loyalty programs, cruise control and to be mindful of your speed on the highway.