Gas price hikes in Montreal unjustified says CAA

Gas prices jumped more than 10 cents per litre this morning in the Montreal region, as drivers woke up on Tuesday to pay 1.46 cents at the pump.

The increases are nothing new for Montrealers, who weresubjectedto numerous unnecessaryprice hikes in 2012, especially before holiday weekends, according to CAA Quebec.

"It is very disturbing to see so many unjustified increases," said Sophie Gagnon, CAA-Quebec's assistant vice president for public and government relations.

Out of 12 gas price hikes observed in Montreal in 2012, CAA deemed eight of them to be unjustified.

"When motorists take advantage of the weekend to escape to visit family or friends, the industry makes sure it gets the maximum profitby imposing increases with no basis," Gagnon said.

Compared to Qubec City and Sherbrooke, Montreal-area driverssuffer the most from the pre-weekend price jacking.

Gas taxes in the city are also the highest among Canada's largest cities. Montrealers pay about 36 per cent in tax on top of the average price for a litre of gasoline. The overall Canadian average is 31 per cent.