UPDATE - ON: Multi-stakeholder group provides a forum to promote propane vehicles

As members may recall, the CPA was invited to participate in a multi-stakeholder working group of the Ontario Ministries of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MOECP) and Transportation providing advice and input to the provincial government on the design of an integrated vehicle safety and emissions inspection program for heavy diesel commercial motor vehicles. The group has convened three times since its first meeting on February 14, 2020.

Most recently, on October 26, 2020, attendees were presented with highlights of a research study on near-road air pollution by Dr. Greg Evans from the University of Toronto’s Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research. Members discussed challenges with older diesel vehicles, breaking out into groups for in-depth conversations about: developing a roadmap to convert the province’s heavy-duty diesel fleets over the next 10 years; revamped approaches to reporting smoking and tampered vehicles; retrofit and replacement readiness for these fleets; traffic management options to reduce pollution; driver training opportunities; and supply chain accountability measures.

The working group is comprised of representatives from the health, environment, business/industry, academia, and government sectors. The forum is co-chaired by the Ontario Trucking Association’s Geoffrey Wood and the Pembina Institute’s Carolyn Kim. These meetings give the CPA’s Ontario Government Relations Director, Marcelline Riddell, a platform to promote the consideration and adoption of propane vehicles, focusing on the presence of existing refuelling infrastructure, a critical component missing from other clean energy vehicle options. 

Riddell will continue to update CPA members on relevant meeting highlights as appropriate.