OTTAWA – Industry Minister Tony Clement has asked fuel refiners, distributors and retailers to come to Ottawa to explain their pricing methods to a parliamentary committee.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance applauded the move.

"As the main user of diesel fuel in Canada, my members have a particular interest in hearing the statements made by the oil industry on the matter of pricing," said CTA CEO David Bradley.

Diesel prices in Canada have been on an upward tear for about two years and recently were within shouting distance of the average price of diesel fuel for 2008, CTA points out.

Retail prices for diesel have escalated by over 27 percent over the past year. At the wholesale level (as measured by the average rack price) prices are up by over 30 percent during the same period.

Of particular interest to the CTA will be how the oil and gas sector responds to the impact of the federal governments’ biodiesel mandate on pricing beginning this July.

"With limited access to domestic biodiesel feedstock, lack of blending facilities and the introduction of transportation challenges, the trucking industry has been kept in the dark regarding price impact on diesel fuel," said Bradley.

"Hopefully this process will shine the light on the true pricing impact of the July 1 mandate, and force members of parliament to come to grips that they will be exasperating an already difficult situation as it relates to diesel prices."