NEW – CPA joins global task force combatting natural gas phase-out

The CPA has consistently stated support for reducing Canada’s carbon footprint. However, any reduction in energy options for Canadian consumers, particularly related to natural gas and therefore propane, is detrimental to consumers and manufacturers. 

Across Canada: 

As of December 31, 2021, oil-powered heating is banned in all new construction projects across Quebec and it will be illegal to replace existing oil furnaces with any sort of heating system powered by fossil fuels after December 31, 2023. 

Over 30 Ontario municipalities have passed motions requesting the provincial government develop and implement a plan to phase out all gas-fired power generation to achieve their climate action goals. The province’s Independent Electricity Operator (IESO) reported in October 2021, that it is not technically or economically feasible to phase out natural gas generation by 2030. Regardless, Energy Minister Todd Smith directed the IESO to look into a moratorium on procuring new natural gas generation stations and develop an “achievable pathway to phase-out natural gas generation and achieve zero emissions in the electricity sector” and report back to him by November 2022.   

On the West Coast, as of January 1, 2022, the City of Vancouver no longer allows fossil fuels — natural gas being the most common — to be used for home or hot water heating in new low-rise residential buildings​​. 

Globally: 

The regulatory restrictions being waged against the natural gas sector have direct impact on the propane industry and are being felt around the world. The CPA will participate in a global task force initiated by the World Liquid Propane Gas Association (WLPGA) to counter and respond to these increasingly aggressive regulatory pushes to ban natural gas use and generation. 

An initial meeting of this task force was held on December 7, 2021, in Dubai, attended by Henry Cubbon, DCC LPG; Steve Kaminski, NPGA; George Webb, Liquid Gas UK; Esther Busscher, SHV Energy; Ilias Vazaios, Gemserv; and Michael Kelly, WLPGA Deputy Managing Director. Named the Just Energy Transition in Heating Task Force (JET Heating), the group will focus on communications and messaging, sharing learnings and building alliances with other impacted industries. 

The CPA’s representative, Ontario Government Relations Director, Marcelline Riddell, attended the second meeting on January 25, 2022, with discussion items that included: 

1. Mapping current regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions;
2. Gathering existing reports in markets facing big policy challenges;
3. Creating two representative case studies for advocacy purposes;  
4. Developing a coordinated approach towards heat pumps; and
5. Creating a structured outreach strategy to other affected industries. 

Riddell will report back to members on relevant activities and outcomes from this task force regularly. Please contact her at marcellineriddell@propane.ca for more information.