With gas prices over $1.30, it’s not hard to say “I don’t want to fill my tank today…”
Drivers are being urged to refrain from filling up on gas Friday by a huge boycott movement as motorists in the GTA took another beating at the pumps.
Prices spiked more than 3 cents a litre overnight to 132.1 cents, breaching the $1.30 mark for the first time this year, despite oil prices taking a dip.
A year ago, before the HST was implemented, drivers in Toronto were paying around $1 for a litre of regular gas.
Still, Toronto has it easier than Montreal, where drivers are currently paying an average of $1.35 per litre.
To combat rising fuel costs, some fed up motorists have decided to take matters into their own hands by organizing boycotts on the web.
One Facebook event, titled “Don’t buy gas on April 15th”, calls on motorists in the U.S. and Canada to refrain from filling up on Friday to protest skyrocketing gas prices and hurt big oil companies.
The event currently has more than 1 million users confirmed as “attending.”
“Let us unite in protest of escalating fuel prices,” the group’s description urges.
“It’s just bloody greedy of (oil companies),” Facebook user Niel MacDonald wrote on the group’s wall. “Canadians get the shaft all the time.”
Other users, however, are questioning the effectiveness of blanket boycotts on gas stations.
“Not buying gas for one day just means that the next day you’re getting the gas you needed for the day you didn’t buy plus what you are going to use,” commented user Chris Anderson, “so the only thing you’ve accomplished is made (gas companies) wait one more day to get paid.”
“One of the most failed boycotts in history right here. And 1,000,000 suckers fell for it,” added Mitchell Airey.
Bargain hunters can find the cheapest gas prices in Toronto here.
3 Comments User Comments
Add a commentRiina Koppel
April 15, 2011
6:28 pm
I did not fill up today but should have yesterday and now gas has gone up another 2 cents. I have to fill up tomorrow so thanks!!!
RainbowRay
April 16, 2011
11:18 am
I don’t have a car, but I would be inclined to support a boycott like that!
RainbowRay
???????
basenji...3
April 21, 2011
3:48 pm
Gas boycots dont seem to work.But what do you think of an idea that has to do with boycotting, but on EVERYTHING, for one day per week, lets say Monday,for a month.Dont buy anything you dont need to sustain life THAT day. No gas,water botles,big macs,starbucks etc.., stay out of stores,dont travel,take a day off but dont go shopping,no CostCo,wallmart,CTC, .Imaging milions of people not buying commodities for one day. The surplus of energys and raw materials it would create . Thats what the price of all the commodities we consume is based on ,supply and demand. Yes you do need to go to work and eat and drink , but dont consume anythig that wont sustain your life THAT ONE DAY .As an entity of consumers this could make a riple in tthe force.