Prices at the pumps in all three Maritime provinces are down for a second, or even third, time this week. “All this really has to do with U.S. President Donald Trump teasing that there may be another deal between U.S. and Iran to open the Strait,” says petroleum analyst Patrick Dehaan, referring to the Strait of Hormuz. “That caused oil to plummet Monday, Tuesday and into Wednesday, which open the door for big declines in gas prices coast-to-coast,” he adds. Nova Scotia Regular self-serve gasoline decreased by 9.7 cents overnight in the Halifax area. The new minimum price is 170.5 cents per litre. Diesel prices decreased by 9.8 cents. The minimum price is now 220.0 cents per litre. In Cape Breton, motorists are paying 172.4 cents per litre for gasoline and 221.9 cents per litre for diesel. Al DesLaurier has been a driver with the Halifax Taxi Association since 1965. “I’ve seen gas go from $5 a day to $50 a day,” he says. He wonders if the price drops announced will make a significant impact on taxi drivers. “When you’re putting $50 a day in a car, $40 a day in a car, it is a relief but it really means nothing to us,” he says. DesLaurier says when he gets gas, he doesn’t bother to look at the total, because it’s an expense he has to pay either way. He suggests government action could help, offering tax cuts on fuel expenses for taxi drivers. As for other motorists, the recent price drops offer some relief. “Yesterday it was $1.80 and today it’s $1.70, it’s going down and hopefully it goes down a little more,” says Ola Dayo, a driver in Cole Harbour. Whether you’re driving to work or on a road trip, if you’re low on fuel you have to get some, says Kevin White, another motorist. White is from New Brunswick, and points out the prices are worse in his home province. New Brunswick Regular self-serve gasoline decreased by 5.8 cents in New Brunswick. The maximum price is now 179.8 cents per litre. The price of diesel decreased by 2.8 cents. The new maximum price in the province is 235.6 cents per litre. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick also had unscheduled changes take effect on Wednesday. “One thing we do know... is that the Irving oil refinery in Saint John is going to be undergoing maintenance in about a month, month and a half, that is going to last two months,” says Dehaan. He says as a result, prices could go up again. Prince Edward Island The price of regular self-serve gasoline on P.E.I. decreased by 3.5 cents following an unscheduled price adjustment on Thursday. The new minimum price is 180.4 cents per litre. Diesel prices decreased by 2.9 cents, bringing the minimum price to 228.7 cents per litre. With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Jonathan MacInnis
