Dan McTeague
Dan McTeague, the former Liberal MP who re-invented himself into Canada’s go-to source on gas prices, is warning that there might — might — be shortages of gasoline at service stations because of fuel restrictions that have been placed on a major pipeline. The National Energy Board ordered Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc. to reduce the flow of oil throughout its pipeline system by 10 per cent in a ruling issued on September 27. The release explains that the NEB is concerned said about “pipeline releases and overpressure incidents that occurred in 2009 and 2010.” The NEB said that the order would remain in effect while Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc. “implements a longer term solution.” Mr. McTeague, who runs the website GasBuddy.com say this may lead to rolling shortages at stations anywhere from Hamilton to Ottawa. “There are a number of concerns that NEB has identified and it is not going to be a 7 or 10 day fix,” McTeague told CP24 on Tuesday. “Ultimately gas stations will see the effect. Some will close down for brief periods of time.” This warning has the maddening quality of so many stories that warn of possible outcomes — there is no way to know whether there will in fact be shortages. McTeague suggests we may see more tanker trucks on the highway carrying fuel to supplement the pipeline.
