When Did Gas Get So Expensive?
Canadians are no strangers to sticker shock at the gas station, but lately the pain at the pump has hit differently. A recent Instagram post from Ottawa-based account @shottawa.tv captured the mood perfectly, a throwback to cheaper times paired with a very real emoji of grief for what fuel costs look like today.
The post touched a nerve, racking up engagement from people who remember when filling a tank didn't require a second thought (or a second mortgage). The hashtags said it all: #GasPrices, #Canada, #Ontario, and a telling nod to the #StraitofHormuz, one of the world's most critical oil chokepoints.
Global Pressures, Local Pain
Gas prices in Canada don't exist in a vacuum. They're tied to global crude oil markets, refinery capacity, provincial taxes, and geopolitical flashpoints like the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world's traded oil passes. When tensions rise in that region, prices ripple outward, straight to the pumps on Merivale Road and Bank Street.
Ontario drivers have faced some of the highest urban fuel costs in the country in recent years, with prices in Ottawa regularly hovering well above the national average when you factor in carbon pricing and provincial fuel taxes.
Is Relief on the Way?
Energy analysts have noted some volatility in crude prices heading into 2026, with both upward and downward pressures at play. Federal carbon pricing policies, pipeline capacity debates, and the ongoing push toward electric vehicles are all reshaping the conversation about what Canadians pay to get around.
For now, though, the nostalgia is real. Those old receipts showing much lower prices per litre feel like artifacts from another era, a Canada that many drivers remember fondly but that market forces have long since left behind.
What You Can Do
If you're feeling the squeeze, a few practical steps can help:
- Use gas price apps like GasBuddy to find the cheapest stations in your area
- Fill up mid-week: prices tend to spike heading into long weekends
- Consider your driving habits: highway speeds and gentle acceleration go a long way
- Look into loyalty programs: many Ottawa gas stations offer points that add up over time
Until prices come back down to earth, Canadians will keep reminiscing, and keep calculating the cost per kilometre before every road trip.
Source: @shottawa.tv on Instagram
