Why are Sea to Sky gas prices often higher than Vancouver?

Taxes are lower north of Lions Bay, but smaller markets can have higher retail margins and slower price drops. The BCUC has reported an unexplained price difference.

Do lower taxes in Squamish and Whistler mean gas should be cheaper?

In theory yes, since the TransLink fuel tax does not apply. In practice, local margins and market dynamics often keep prices higher.

Has any regulator found wrongdoing over Sea to Sky gas prices?

No. As of now there is no confirmed evidence of illegal conduct. The BCUC monitors pricing and the Competition Bureau handles enforcement if needed.

What can Sea to Sky drivers do to save on fuel?

Check daily prices, consider fueling in West Vancouver when cheaper, keep receipts of unusual price jumps, and support calls for federal review.

What is the main keyword for this article?

The primary keyword is Sea to Sky gas prices.

Why Are Sea to Sky Gas Prices Still Higher Than Vancouver?

staysafevancouver
1 day ago
3 min read

Comic-style illustration of a Squamish driver frustrated by high Sea to Sky gas prices at a station showing $1.79 per litre with mountains in the background

Every few weeks, someone in Squamish posts a photo of a gas station sign and the comments fill up instantly. Vancouver is cheaper again. The frustration is so familiar it feels permanent north of Lions Bay.

Across the corridor, residents say Sea to Sky gas prices have become a symbol of unfairness. How can towns that pay less in taxes still face higher pump prices? It is a question that has fueled anger for years and one that even the province’s own regulator has not fully answered.

The Frustration Every Driver Knows

Metro Vancouver drivers pay an extra 18.5 cents per litre in TransLink fuel tax. That tax disappears once you pass Lions Bay, yet prices in Squamish and Whistler often rise instead of fall.

This summer, when Vancouver sat around 159.9 cents per litre, Squamish hovered near 169.9 and Whistler was higher. For an average driver filling a 50-litre tank weekly, that means more than $250 extra each year. Residents say it feels like being punished for living outside the city.

Even the Province’s Own Inquiry Found “Unexplained” Prices

In 2019, the BC Utilities Commission ran a full inquiry into fuel pricing. Its report confirmed what many suspected: British Columbians were paying about 10 to 13 cents more per litre than comparable markets in the Pacific Northwest.

Smaller communities, including those along the Sea to Sky, showed some of the highest retail margins. The commission did not accuse anyone of wrongdoing but admitted there was an “unexplained difference” it could not justify. That was six years ago, and the pattern has not changed.

Squamish & Whistler Residents Are Demanding Answers on Gas Prices

In Squamish, residents have turned gas prices into a daily conversation. Facebook groups such as Squamish Speaks and Squamish Community Discussion Board fill with screenshots comparing prices between Squamish, North Vancouver, and Pemberton. Comments echo the same frustration: “We pay less tax but higher prices—how does that make sense?”

In Whistler, posts on the Whistler Winter and Summer Community Board tell a similar story. Residents say they feel trapped by limited competition and few transport options. Some call it “economic exploitation,” while others simply call it “normal.” The Squamish Chief has reported that locals are losing patience with what feels like an endless and unjustified price gap.

Transparency Was Supposed to Fix This but It Hasn’t

In 2020, the province introduced the Fuel Price Transparency Act. It forced companies to report wholesale and retail prices to the BC Utilities Commission, giving the public a look at how every dollar is divided.

Five years later, the data is public but the prices remain high. The BCUC can collect information and publish reports but cannot regulate or cap retail margins. Enforcement rests with the federal Competition Bureau, which has not issued findings specific to the Sea to Sky corridor. To residents, transparency feels like another word for inaction.

How High Gas Prices Are Hitting Sea to Sky Families and Businesses

For many locals, high gas prices are not just an inconvenience. They shape daily life. Delivery drivers in Squamish pay more to move goods between depots and the village core. Tradespeople commuting to Whistler absorb hundreds of dollars in extra annual fuel costs.

Small businesses say those costs flow directly to consumers. Resort workers driving in from nearby towns explain that the price difference between Vancouver and Whistler can cut into already limited seasonal wages. Families making regular trips to the Lower Mainland describe fuel costs as the final strain on an already expensive lifestyle.

What Sea to Sky Drivers Can Do About It

You cannot control the market, but you can stop paying blindly. Start by checking daily prices using GasBuddy or the BC Utilities Commission’s GasPricesBC site before you drive so you know where fuel is cheapest. When possible, fill up in West Vancouver, where prices are often 10 to 15 cents lower than in Squamish or Whistler.

Keep your receipts or screenshots when prices spike unexpectedly since these can be shared with regulators or local reporters tracking price trends. Finally, support local councils pushing for a federal review of corridor pricing, because the more public attention this issue receives, the harder it becomes to ignore.

Until Regulators or Fuel Companies Explain Why

No one has proven wrongdoing, and no company has been accused of breaking the law. Yet the numbers tell a story that does not add up. Taxes are lower, transport is shorter, and prices are higher.

That is what keeps people in Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton asking the same question week after week. If neither the provincial regulator nor the fuel companies can explain the difference, how long will residents be expected to keep paying more?