The alliance of oil-exporting countries OPEC+ shared on October 5 its decision to cut its oil production by 2 million barrels per day from next November, a decision that should lead to a significant boost in prices.
What impact on Quebecers?
Shortly following the announcement of OPEC +, the barrel of Brent from the North Sea rose to 93.43 dollars. The impact of the decision was immediately visible in Quebec, as the price at the pump jumped to 174.9¢ per liter in several regions of the province last Thursday, once morest an average price which averaged 158 .0¢ per liter in Quebec the previous week. This increase should also continue over the coming months.
This increase in the price of oil comes in a period of vulnerability for many Quebecers: with an inflation rate of 7.1% as of August in Quebec, it cannot be ruled out that, to achieve make ends meet, many will have to limit their trips by gas-powered car in the coming months and prioritize other alternatives, such as carpooling, using public transit or even buying an electric vehicle. But wouldn’t that be good for the environment, following all?
Un « blessing in disguise » ?
43% of greenhouse gases (GHG) are caused by transportation in Quebec. Thus, if the increase in the price of fuel pushed the majority of people to adopt behaviors aimed at limiting their gas consumption, this might be beneficial to our fight once morest climate change.
It all sounds good on paper. However, the reality is otherwise.
Unfortunately, too many Quebecers have no alternative. First, public transit is not accessible to everyone. On the one hand, several regions in Quebec are very poorly served, even sometimes public transit is non-existent. On the other hand, current costs can represent a financial barrier for many. For example, a monthly pass allowing you to travel from Terrebonne to Montreal using the bus and metro costs $184, which represents an annual sum of $2,208.
The purchase of an electric vehicle remains impossible for the majority. In fact, Quebec is lagging far behind in the electrification of transportation and the supply of new electric vehicles is currently insufficient to meet demand. Potential buyers face one- to two-year waiting lists at dealerships to get a new electric vehicle. This is explained by the fact that manufacturers are concentrating their efforts on regions with stricter transportation electrification standards. Although Quebec has taken the decision to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles from 2035, the requirements in the meantime remain too low. By comparison, Norway will ban the sale of new petrol vehicles from 2025, and electric vehicles already accounted for 64% of new car sales in 2021.
Quebecers have their hands tied… for now
This increase in the price of oil caused by the OPEC+ decision might lead to financial difficulties for many Quebecers who will not be able to turn to other alternatives in the near future. If he seriously intends to help Quebecers during his new mandate and this, in the long term, François Legault will have to work twice as hard in the field of sustainable transportation.
Laurie-Anne Alarie
Master’s student in Political Science – Public and International Affairs at the University of Montreal
