Airdrie residents say they’re still paying more at the pump than drivers in nearby communities — and are questioning whether Alberta is enforcing its consumer protection laws at all.
Related Stories:
The province’s response followed Ottawa’s decision to set consumer fuel charge rates to zero under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act — a move Minister Dale Nally called a long-overdue relief.
"With the removal of this costly tax, Alberta drivers will save an average of $215 per year at the pumps," Nally said. "Our government expects that retailers will pass these tax savings on to Albertans in full."
"We do not want the removal of the federal government’s consumer carbon tax to be a phony tax cut, so we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to ensure Alberta drivers are not being gouged at the pumps," he added. "We will be monitoring and reviewing pump prices for any wrongdoing and take action if needed. Businesses found guilty of price gouging can be fined by the courts up to $300,000 or receive up to two years of jail time."
DiscoverAirdrie asked the ministry how it monitors fuel pricing, what enforcement powers it uses, and whether regional price differences — including in Airdrie — are being addressed. The ministry confirmed that no corporate fuel retailer or distributor has been charged or convicted of price gouging in the past five years.
"No prosecutions, convictions, or fines under the CPA specific to gas prices occurred within the timeframe provided," the ministry stated.
"The CIU monitors gas prices in select communities across the province and has not found any contraventions made by gasoline retailers that would violate the [Consumer Protection Act]," it added. "To date, the CIU has not taken any enforcement actions against gasoline retailers."
Alberta’s Consumer Investigations Unit is currently monitoring gas prices in 14 communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Pincher Creek, High Level, Hinton, Peace River, Lloydminster, Slave Lake and Strathmore.
Airdrie is not included on the list.
The ministry stated, "There are no thresholds in legislation that specifically address pump pricing. Variation in pump prices in the range of 10–20 cents per litre are common."
Asked how it determines whether fuel pricing qualifies as gouging in Alberta’s deregulated market, the ministry cited the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), which prohibits businesses from charging prices that "grossly exceed" those of similar goods or services without proper disclosure.
"Grossly exceeds" is not defined in legislation, but CIU typically considers prices "grossly excessive" when a supplier charges more than twice the market rate and does not provide an explanation.
The ministry added that high prices alone do not constitute an offence under Alberta law.
"Clear evidence of non-compliance with the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) is necessary for the CIU to lay charges or recommend administrative enforcement action," it said.
There are no fuel-specific provisions in the legislation. When asked what legal framework governs fuel pricing conduct, the ministry pointed to Section 6 of the CPA.
That section prohibits several unfair practices, including "charging a price for goods or services that grossly exceeds the price at which similar goods or services are readily available without informing the consumers of the difference in price and the reason for the difference."
The ministry said it has not sought legal clarification on the limits of its enforcement powers, explaining that such clarification is typically sought "on a case-by-case basis."
In response to questions about transparency, the ministry said it does not plan to publish any of the pricing data it collects.
"The Government of Alberta has no contractual or regulatory requirement for gasoline retailers to submit gasoline pump prices," the ministry said.
It also confirmed that it does not intend to release findings from its fuel monitoring efforts. Any information collected is subject to the province’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The ministry stated that it does not investigate regional price differences, but acknowledged that fuel pricing is influenced by several factors. These include raw commodity costs, refinery and marketing costs, transportation, operating expenses, federal taxes, and local variables such as labour costs and property taxes.
As of April 10, the province had received seven consumer complaints related to fuel pricing since April 2 through its "Report a Rip-off" line. None of those complaints led to an investigation or enforcement.
"To date, reported events have not required follow-up, enforcement, or resolution because the submissions have not identified any offence under the authority of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction," the ministry said.
When asked what steps the government is taking to ensure carbon tax savings are passed on to consumers, the ministry stated that "retailers appear to be respecting the carbon tax adjustment," noting that price reductions were observed between April 1 and April 4.
The CPA applies only to consumer transactions. Wholesale pricing — including sales from fuel distributors to retailers — is outside the scope of provincial enforcement.
Albertans with concerns about fuel pricing or other consumer issues can report them by calling 1-877-427-4088 or filing a complaint online.
As of Friday morning, regular gas prices in Airdrie, as listed on Gasbuddy's website, ranged from $1.28 to $1.32. Calgary gas prices ranged from $1.14 to $1.25.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM.
DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app.
