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Quebec's proposed gas pricing law is full of problems and will end up costing consumers, warned the province's Opposition.
The ruling Liberal minority government tabled Bill 41 Tuesday, which would force gas stations to post baseline petrol prices issued by the province's energy board, or else face fines.
The legislation, as it is written, could cost more than the government realizes and will be hard to implement, said Action Démocratique du Québec energy critic Richard Merlini.
The onus will fall on gas station attendants who may not be able to explain the posted prices. "You will be able to ask questions to the attendant: 'How come your price is $1.15 when it says $1.08? What is a poor student going to answer?" Merlini said.
Other questions remain about how customers would be compensated if in fact a gas station's prices are too steep, the energy critic added.
The bill should include a guarantee that oil companies forced to adhere to the law don't pass along price fluctuations to consumers.
The ADQ said its members won't support the bill unless it addresses their concerns.
The petrol industry has already warned that the proposed law creates an additional cost to doing business in Quebec.
The Liberals assure they'll create the infrastructure needed to bring the law into effect, including an automated phone service for gas stations to report their prices.
"There is not going to be a lot of red tape," said natural resources minister Claude Béchard.
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