REGINA — Gasoline prices in Regina have surged sharply this month, with the average now 159.23 cents per litre, according to the latest daily survey of 82 local stations by GasBuddy. That represents a 12.2‑cent jump in just one week and a 34.7‑cent increase compared with one month ago, a spike motorists say is stretching household budgets.
While Regina’s average remains slightly below the national average of 164.31 cents per litre, drivers across Saskatchewan are feeling the impact. The provincial average currently sits around 155.64 cents per litre, up nearly 10 cents in a week, while Saskatoon drivers are paying around 162.12 cents per litre.
At gas stations across the city Monday, drivers voiced frustration about climbing costs.
“It’s getting ridiculous,” expressed one Regina motorist while watching numbers climb at the pump. “Every week it seems to jump again.”
Another driver said they’re already changing everyday decisions because of higher prices. “It used to be just fill up and go,” they told. “Now you’re watching every kilometre.”
A commuter on their way to work said the rise is hitting families already squeezed by inflation. “Groceries are up, rent is up, power is up,” they said. “Gas going up again just feels like one more thing.”
Leaders and advocates speak out
The price surge has prompted public remarks from policy leaders and analysts across the province.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, points to global forces driving the increases. “Canadian motorists are continuing to feel the sting of rising oil, gasoline and diesel costs as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain elevated,” De Haan said, noting that instability around major oil shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz continues to apply upward pressure on oil and fuel prices nationwide.
De Haan also cited seasonal refinery changes as contributing to the trend, with North American producers transitioning to more expensive summer gasoline blends, creating what he called a “double headwind” for prices that could push pump costs even higher in the weeks ahead.
Locally, political and policy voices are also weighing in. Gage Haubrich, Prairie director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, has publicly urged the Saskatchewan government to consider immediate tax relief for drivers. “Saskatchewanians need relief at the pump,” Haubrich said, arguing that the province’s 15‑cent‑per‑litre fuel tax — the highest among western provinces — adds significant burden when prices are already rising.
Haubrich’s advocacy comes as the federation calculates that roughly 21 per cent of the cost drivers pay at the pump in Saskatchewan comes from combined federal and provincial taxes, a figure critics say policymakers should address during periods of sharp price increases.
A broader trend with local impact
Analysts say the current spike is connected to both international energy pressures and typical seasonal shifts, but its local impact is unmistakeable. Compared with the same day last year, Regina gas prices are about 6.7 cents higher, and much higher than recent years. Historical GasBuddy data shows wide variation on March 16 over the past five years, including highs above 176 cents per litre in 2022 and lows near 115.6 cents in 2021.
For many residents, however, historical context offers little comfort when they watch prices climb week after week.
“I used to fill this thing up for fifty bucks,” said one driver beside his vehicle Monday morning, referring to his truck. “Now it’s pushing eighty. I don’t know how people are supposed to keep up with that.”
What comes next
Looking ahead, energy analysts say the path for fuel prices remains uncertain. If global tensions ease and crude oil supply stabilizes, prices could level off in the coming weeks. But if geopolitical instability intensifies or refinery changes continue to push production costs higher, drivers may see further increases before the busy spring travel season settles in.
For now, Regina motorists are watching every price sign with concern, hoping for some relief while preparing for what could be a more expensive season at the pump.
