If I understand this correctly. Companies like Petro Canada drill for their own oil, refine their own oil into gasoline, and supply their own gas stations with that gasoline. So no where in the chain of production does the price of crude affect them. So why would the price of gasoline go up when crude oil does? Am I mistaken?

Crooks! What with a 44 billion profit per year, they sure like to gouge the hell out of us.

Their excuse; 'our prices are driven by the world price for a barrel of oil'
In other words, a few get richer yet, the rest of us just keep paying. It's about the money. Greed.
metalman.

It was just announced on CBC that its at 108.00 a barrel

I wish there was a reasonably priced electric vehicle that I could buy. The ZEN car comes the closest, but it only goes 45 km/h, and you can't buy it anywhere in BC yet (even though it is finally legal for the road). A conversion kit for an S10 pickup will end up costing $15,000-$20,000 by the time you pay for the kit, the truck, the batteries, and the labour.

Hopefully in the next few years something will come to the market, and I will be one of the first to buy.

for all those that complain about gas prices why dont you just invest in there companies...

The downside to battery powered vehicles is the battery life. The replacements are very expensive too. I think it actually costs more to purchase and operate a battery car than a conventional car, in the long run. They will not be popular or mainstream until someone figures out the battery problems; life vs. cost
metalman.

Here's an electric vehicle you can probably afford:
http://www.bionx.ca/
Canadian company (well, Quebec - close enough!) with a local supplier (Cariboo Adventures).
This "hybrid" uses a blend of electricity and groceries. Just add a bicycle.