I am not sure the picket line had a lot to do with the prices.
In the USA that tactic would work as the stations are owned by the fas companies.
Not in CAnada. Here the stations are individually owned and they pay for the franchise rights to use the company's name etc. So picket action only really hurt the station owner, who is under orders from headquarters, where ever that may be, as to what price to charge.
I can't somehow see either the federal government or the provincial government getting involved. They get their percentage and that is all that seems to matter.
I did contact the provinvial government about this via email some time back and was given a bunch of government gobblety gook and was told different areas charge different amounts. No Kidding!
If someone can come up with a way that works I would more than glad to help out.

Sorry about the spelling errors above.
I really don't want to hurt the little local guy so....
I wonder if not using the oil company CREDIT CARDS would have any effect?

For your personal use vehicle consider buying a smaller vehicle next time it needs to be replaced. Downsize from a V8 to a V6, from a V6 to a 4 cylinder engine, consider a hybrid model.

Next, cut all unnecessary trips by 50% thereby greatly reducing the frequency of your visits to the gas stations.

The gas companies continuously keep track of what type of vehicle we buy and the average annual mileage we accumulate driving them.

Soon all vehicles will have a chip installed at the factory that records distances and speeds driven, among other things. GM cars and trucks made in the last two years have the chip already.

As long as V8 powered (empty) pickup trucks driven by a lone occupant can be seen in great numbers on our roads the gas companies are not too concerned that we might eventually get the message and tackle the issue by simply using less of the expensive commodity gasoline.

It is good for the environment, too.

The are a number of factors that make up the price of gasoline. First, the gas companies of course have extraction, refinery, and distribution costs which is the bulk of the cost of gas. Then there is the government which comes next like a greedy piglet taking about 35 percent or more. Then there is the gas companies that take their retail share at the pumps. Some gas retail stations are privately owned. They pay the same wholesale price as Shell, Petro-Canada, Esso, etc.

The wholesale gas price is set at supply and demand commodity prices on the open market. But note, even with this, receiving a small percentage of the overall net profit, the gas companies have made record profits.

Regardless of the supply and demand price, or the cost of production, the government always get their fat share. It seems to be a lot of money since they make the biggest percentage of the profit. Where is all this money going that the goverment collects? I don't know. Big government? Paying down the deficit? MPs, senators, MLA increase in wages, healthcare? It seems our governments are too fat.

US retail pump prices are a lot lower than those in Canada. Yet, the US retail companies pay the same wholesale price as Canada does. Remember the open market commodity prices? We pay more because our governents take more.

So what is the answer? Ben is somewhat right in suggesting that we picket the gas companies. They can afford to take a little off the price. But, we also have to let the governments know that we are unhappy. The cost of everything is going up; hydro, natural gas, water, lumber, etc. We have become government tax slaves and hostages to corporate profit. We are buying back at inflated rates resources that belong to us. How much more can the average family absorb? It has huge social costs, the fact that both parents have to work to keep up, to house, feed, and clothe their families. The government is creating a healthcare crisis which they try to treat by collecting more and more money to address health issues.

Governments need to rethink the social contract. It simply isn't working.

I just read somewhere (don't remember where) that our Federal Government not only sold PetroCan really cheap but it also assumed its debt which amounts to $80 Billion Canadian.

So, here we as taxpayers have the pleasure of not only paying higher prices for the gas at a station that we used to own, but we are also on the hook to pay down the debt of $80 Billion (not million, Madam/Sir! it's written with a "B") with the income taxes we are forced to pay.

Third world stuff, done right within plain view of all the citizens who elected the scoundrels in "free democratic" elections - a third of the elegible voters abstaining because of voter apathy.

Gas is 106.0 per liter in Abbotsford and Kamloops, 113.9 in Kelowna and the Island, 122.9 in Invermere and Golden, 117.9 in Smithers. The average across Canada is supposed to be 106. So why are some of these places in BC getting hit so hard? I know a lot of it is taxes but prices should be coming down. IMO oil companies are taking just as much as they can off of us. Just take a look at their quarterly profits. (in the billions) And don't give me that supply and demand garbarge. Prices have dropped in the Staes and across Canda but B.C. stays the same. Albertans dub B.C. Bring Cash! Check out the gas buddies website. http://www.gasbuddies.com

Sorry about the spelling

Better yet try [url]http://www.bcgasprices.com[url]

Expense accounts for those in power might keep reality from setting in on them?
One would thing that the price of gas should be the same at least in the same province...one would think.
The gas is refined here and shipped to the lower amin land and sold for less than here....something is really wrong!

There are no great mysteries as to why gas prices in Prince George are higher than a lot of other areas. Ben is right. The gas companies charge us more because they know that we will pay more. We have proven that time after time.

There are some solutions, however they will not work as long as we make excuses to not do things. As an example, we dont want to close down the local Petro Can because the local owner has no control over the prices and therefore why should he lose his business. (Gas Co Wins)

Buying smaller cars could help, however a more sensible solution would be to keep your gas tank between 1/4 and 1/2 rather than filling it up. Every car in North America is a storage facility for the Big Gas Companies and they really appreciate our help. By reducing tanks to 1/2 in North America, in a short period of time the gas would back up to Saudia Arabia. There is not enough storage space in North America for all the gas thats held in gas tanks.

Whats the chance of anyone going to a gas station 3 or 4 times when they can do it all at once. Pretty slim I would say. (Gas Co. Wins)

People in Prince George have to select one Gas Co., and it does not matter which one and they then have to boycott every gas station that this company has in Prince George until it lowers its prices. If this company puts it prices up again then they have to boycott it again. If you stick to one company all the time then over time you will make some progress as one company is not prepared to continually take the hit for the other companies who would be making more money because we would be buying the gas from them. This scenario would require some organization, and input from local people. Whats the chances. (Gas Co. Wins)

The orgination could be set up as GASBUSTERS, and people could join for a nominal sum. One on the conditions of joining would be a commitment to purchase your gas from whatever co the organisation listed, and to not fill your tank beyond half full.

Just some suggestions.

Strange Palopu. No one has responded to your suggestions. You have some excellent ideas. And the one about Gasbusters is at the top. How can we encourage people to participate?