Winnipeg drivers are frustrated as gas prices rise by 20 cents a litre

Gas prices freaking you out, Winnipeg drivers? Prices at some gas stations rose by 20 cents to $1.22 per liter.

The sudden surge on Wednesday afternoon caught motorists off guard, including Burrows MLA Melanie White.

“I have to admit, my jaw dropped, as did everyone else in the car. So I wasn't the only one, we were a little surprised,” he said.

– OPPORTUNITY | See Manitoba gas prices here

Dan McTeague, senior oil analyst at gas price website GasBuddy.com, blames the latest surge on refinery trouble in the United States.

McTeague said problems at one of BP's largest facilities in Indiana are causing pump prices to rise from northwestern Ontario to British Columbia.

“There's a lot of hope that 122.9 could be 129.9; maybe even in the worst case scenario it could be above $1.30 (or) $1.31 in the next two to five days,” he said.

In Winnipeg, some drivers said they couldn't afford the sticker shock, and some lined up Wednesday evening at stations offering gas for less than a dollar a litre.

Others, like Guy Towle, said the high price won't deter them.

“You have to drive, right? I'm on vacation right now, so I'm playing golf tomorrow, so I have to drive somewhere out of town,” he said.