Bill 22

Bill 221999

An Act respecting the price of gasoline

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Definition

1. In this Act, "

gasoline" has the same meaning as in the Gasoline Tax Act.

Restriction on price

2. In a zone prescribed by the regulations, a person shall not sell gasoline at retail for a price that is lower than the cost to a retailer in that zone of purchasing and reselling gasoline.

Liability

3. (1) A person who contravenes section 2 is liable to every retailer of gasoline in the zone who complies with section 2 for any loss arising from the contravention.

Exemplary or punitive damages

(2) A court that finds a person liable under subsection (1) may award exemplary or punitive damages.

Offence

4. A person who contravenes section 2 is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $10,000.

Regulations

5. The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

(a)dividing Ontario into zones for the purposes of this Act;

(b)prescribing methods for determining for the purposes of this Act the cost to a retailer in a zone of purchasing and reselling gasoline.

Commencement

6. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

7. The short title of this Act is the Gasoline Pricing Act, 1999.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill prohibits the sale of gasoline at retail for a price that is lower than the cost to a retailer of purchasing and reselling gasoline.