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Quebec motorists looking for the best deal at the pump now have access to a new online tool to help them in their search.
The new interactive platform, launched by Quebec’s energy board on Wednesday, allows users to zoom in on a map and view gasoline prices in real time at service stations across the province.
The initiative is part of the implementation of the Act to ensure responsible governance of energy resources, which was adopted at the National Assembly in June 2025, and comes at a time of market fluctuations driven by the war in the Middle East.
The aim of the tool, found on the regulatory board’s website, is to boost transparency in the gasoline market and allow motorists to make more informed choices.
Under the new regulations, gas stations are required to post the prices they charge consumers for gasoline and diesel fuels to the platform.
The map allows users to locate a gas station and view the prices of regular gasoline, premium gasoline and diesel. (Régie essence Québec)
After a price change, retailers have five minutes to update the information.
Energy board spokesperson Benjamin Bourque told Radio-Canada that 2,671 retailers were registered on the interactive map, as of its latest census.
Those who fail to comply with the new regulations are opening themselves up to possible fines, ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 for a first offence.
Bourque said that while the board is giving gas stations some time to adapt, he warned that, eventually, violators would be penalized.
The board is also encouraging people who notice a difference between the price at the pump and the price displayed on the map to first notify the retailer. If it happens again, map users can report the discrepancy directly on the platform.
Pierre Fitzgibbon, Quebec’s former economy minister, pushed for the change in legislation following a government-commissioned study released in 2024.
WATCH | New tool in Quebec helps you find cheapest price at the pump:
Gas nears $2 for regular in Quebec, but drivers have a new tool to find the lowest price
On April 2, the price of regular gas was around $2 a litre in the Montreal area, and drivers’ frustration is rising. The province’s energy board has released a special interactive tool to help alleviate some of that irritation.
The study, conducted by Montreal economics professor Robert Clark, found that gas was more expensive in the Quebec City, Gaspésie and Côte-Nord regions in particular.
Clark raised several possible explanations for the price disparities, including the structure of local markets and the concentration of gas station ownership.
The change is meant to lower prices, especially in regions where it is more expensive.
CAA-Québec spokesperson Simon Bourassa told Radio-Canada that he believes the new interactive map will help consumers shop around for the best prices before filling up their tanks.
He said, however, that with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and a sharp increase in the price of crude oil, retailers currently lack the flexibility to lower prices at the pump.
Another recommendation stemming from the same study, and adopted by the Quebec government, was the removal of the floor price on gasoline in June 2025.
