The official start of summer is still a few days away, but you wouldn't know that by looking at the pumps.
Gas prices hit $1.15 on the island of Montreal on Thursday in advance of June 21, the first day of summer. Motorists are used to seeing gas prices rise as more people hit the roads to enjoy the warm weather.
Analysts say world oil stocks are plentiful, and the last time oil was around $70 a barrel-- like it is today, was seven months ago.
The discrepancy between the price of oil per barrel and the cost at the pumps has motorists concerned.
"We should be paying 75 cents a litre right now. That's not too fun for us. Why should we be biting the bullet all the time? We're just trying to make a living, doing what we do, so we shouldn't be paying this much. I just don't like it," said one driver.
Industry watchers highlight the possibility that the early spike could mean gas prices this summer will be quite high.
"Basically, I don't know if it's justified," said Vlad Cincik with Gas Buddy.com.
He said he knows gas companies have to agree buy gas at a certain price, but he said even when the price of oil drops consumers rarely see a corresponding drop in the price at the pumps.
With files from the Canadian Press
