On November 30, Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presented the 2020 fall economic statement. Of interest to CPA members, the minister noted that the “safety net” created by the federal government to combat COVID-19 will remain in place until 2021. She also unveiled additional substantial federal spending for virus testing and tracing, procurement of personal protective equipment, and pandemic-related supports for businesses and families.
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As municipalities across Canada look to develop projects that will result in reducing GHGs, the CPA believes there can be an important role for Canada’s propane industry to play in partnering in those efforts. Recently, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities issued a report called: Building back better together that provides important investment opportunities while at the same time reduces Canada’s carbon footprint.
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British Columbia Premier John Horgan announced a new cabinet on November 27, 2020 while warning about challenging times ahead because of the pandemic. The new cabinet includes 20 ministers and four ministers of state.
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British Columbia is accepting applications from local governments, Indigenous communities and not-for-profit organizations for nearly $136 million in infrastructure grants to help communities develop resilience in response to COVID-19. This program offers CPA members the opportunity to partner with these three groups to advance switching communities from diesel fuel for heating and power generation to propane.
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On November 24, 2020, the CPA provided the Alberta government with its 2021 budget recommendations which highlight the benefits of propane. The theme of the Alberta government’s plan for the next year – Alberta’s Recovery Plan: Creating Jobs, Building, and Diversifying – speaks to the importance of creating jobs and diversifying the economy while balancing the need to lower the province’s GHG emissions.
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On November 30, 2020, the Saskatchewan government unveiled its agenda for the next session of the legislature. The ongoing pandemic response and fulfilling the government’s election commitments were the two main focuses of the 2020 speech from the throne, entitled Strong Saskatchewan.
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On November 19, 2020, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Jeff Yurek, released a discussion paper on hydrogen development prospects for Ontario that suggests hydrogen has the potential to be low carbon, for example, if produced from Ontario’s electricity grid. While the CPA supports low-carbon energy solutions and lowering provincial GHG emissions, the propane sector strongly discourages public sector investment targeted to a single energy or technology solution.
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As CPA members are aware, Ontario governments have actively promoted natural gas expansion projects, even where uneconomically viable, across the province for years. An audit report released by Ontario's Auditor General has stated that since 2005, natural gas use in buildings has increased by 15 per cent – three times more than for uses in other applications. As a result, buildings are the third-largest source of emissions in Ontario, contributing 40 megatonnes (Mt) or 24 per cent of the provincial total.
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On December 2, the CPA met virtually with new Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Gary Crossman, to discuss the game-changing advantages of propane and ensure the inclusion of low-emission propane in the province's future plans to reduce GHGs.
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Traditionally, propane providers in Newfoundland and Labrador have sourced their propane from the North Atlantic Refinery in Come By Chance. With the refinery presently in standby mode as of March, 2020 due to COVID-19 and economic concerns, suppliers are looking for ways to replace the propane normally available from the North Atlantic refinery.
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The CPA is pushing forward with efforts to have exemptions for propane treated the same as gas and diesel in agriculture applications under the federal carbon tax. In provinces where the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act is enforced such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, propane does not enjoy the same tax exemptions from the carbon tax that heavier fuels do. As a result, the CPA has been pushing for a level playing field.
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In an ongoing effort to ensure the continuation of Enbridge Line 5, the CPA wrote to Michigan Governor Whitmer on December 4 in response to her latest efforts to shut down Line 5. On November 13, the Governor took legal action, notifying Enbridge that she was revoking an easement to the pipeline in Michigan where it crosses the Straits of Mackinac. Whitmer hopes to have Line 5 shut down by May 2021.
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The CPA continues to closely follow the activities of Enbridge Gas Limited as it seeks Ontario Energy Board (OEB) approval to levy a number of new charges to current and future natural gas customers in Ontario communities. As members may recall, in October 2020, the OEB approved Enbridge’s application to add a number of new charges to current and future customers. The Board approved the establishment of harmonized charges across all of Enbridge Gas’s rate zones, “to provide a predictable rate and approach to customer payments for expansion projects.”
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The CPA is pleased to announce that François Foucault has joined the CPA Team as Director of Training. He will be working with VP Regulatory Affairs and Safety Robert Loenhart to ensure our training material meets the industry’s highest quality standards and complies with Canada’s Codes and Standards. François holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial Relations and worked for several years in the airline industry as a trainer and an airline pilot.
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The CPA/PTI would like to extend our sincere thanks to Marcel Mandin, HSE Supervisor and PTI Trainer with Mutual Propane, for his support and dedication in helping us improve our training material. Marcel is behind the recent change made to PTI course – Construction Heaters and Torches Up to and Including 400,000 BTU/h – 400-01, which now includes a general procedure to light a propane heater in the manual. It is through the experience and commitment of our members like Marcel that we are able to offer ongoing improvements to our courses and contributes to the overall safety of the industry. Please reach out to training@propane.ca if you have suggestions or improvements to PTI training material.
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The CPA/PTI is pleased to announce that a key element crucial to testing hoses with nitrogen used by many CPA members to meet hose testing requirements under the CSA B620 7.2.10 Hose Assembly Inspection and Testing is now included in PTI course material.
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The Propane Training Institute is now providing FREE delivery for orders over $250 thanks to Staples, its new national multi-location print supplier. The Propane Training Institute is excited to announce that starting December 4, we began providing member companies with a new supplier of printed training manuals and exams. The new supplier arrangement with Staples means significant savings in shipping costs for all orders and faster turnaround.
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On November 13, Statistics Canada released the third edition of the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions (CSBC), with the support of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The survey was conducted from Sept.15 to Oct. 21, 2020 with business owners from across Canada. For a deeper dive into the numbers and what they mean for Canadian businesses, read the Canadian Chamber’s report, in partnership with Deloitte Canada, here.
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B.C.’s order that prohibits socializing indoors with people other than household members (or one to two friends if you live alone) has been extended to Jan. 8. Starting December 18, British Columbians can apply for the BC Recovery Benefit. It is a one-time, tax-free payment of up to $1,000 for families & single parents, & up to $500 for individuals.
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Alberta is now under several new mandatory measures as cases surge: All indoor and outdoor social gatherings – public and private – are prohibited, mandatory masks and work from home, and retail is now limited to 15 per cent of fire code occupancy.
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The Manitoba government has extended public health orders from Dec. 12, 2020 until Jan. 8, 2021. Manitobans must continue to limit their close contacts and only gather with members of their immediate household. However, several modifications have been to the existing Critical (red) level restrictions, based on feedback from public, stakeholders, and enforcement officials. Click here to learn more about these changes.
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The temporary changes to the Atlantic Bubble travel protocol announced Wednesday, November 23 remain in effect and have been extended for one month, up to and including Thursday, January 7.
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As of December 7, 2020, P.E.I. is transitioning to a COVID-19 circuit breaker phase for two weeks. This circuit breaker phase is a time-limited intervention designed to get control of the situation at hand and break the chain of transmission of COVID-19. It will be reassessed throughout this period.
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Due to lowering case numbers, the government has returned Zone 1 (Moncton region) and Zone 3 (Fredericton region) to the Yellow level effective December 6. Zone 2 (Saint John region) is remaining at the Orange alert level for the time being. To learn more, click here.
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In early 2021, the CPA will be establishing two new councils that will assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities to improve member engagement which will provide increased value for CPA members. The new councils, the Retail Council and the Producer/Wholesaler/Transport Council will serve in support of the CPA Board’s External Affairs Committee and will draw on the knowledge and capacity of members to support the development, promotion and the interests of Canada’s propane industry in these two specific areas.
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Each December, the CPA Saskatchewan committee donates to several charities, through the suggestions of their members. Several worthy organizations were suggested and after careful review, the following charities each received a $500 donation.
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The Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques and the California Air Ressources Board held the joint carbon market auction on November 17, 2020.
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Date: September 15 to September 18, 2021
Location: Estérel Resort
For more information click here (in French only).
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- BC Committee - October 20 Meeting
- Saskatchewan Committee - November 3 Meeting
- Auto Propane Committee - September 17 Meeting
- Manitoba Committee - February 12 Meeting
- Alberta Committee - October 15 Meeting
- Ontario Committee - September 29 Meeting
- Transportation Committee - December 8 Meeting
- Regulatory Affairs Committee - September 22 Meeting
- Atlantic Committee - September 24 Meeting
Meeting summaries can be found in the Document Centre in your online member profile. Click here to log in to your member profile.
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Date: January 13, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 am CST
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.
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Date: February 10, 2021
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm CST
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.
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Date: March 9, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am PDT
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.
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Date: March 16, 2021
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
To attend the Committee, please contact Rob Loenhart
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Date: March 18, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am ADT
To attend the Committee, please contact Jean-François Duguay.
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Date: March 26, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am MDT
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.
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Date: June 8, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am PDT
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.
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Date: September 14, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am PDT
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.
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- Getting a jump on your 2021 E2 and rail security plan goals
- How ERAC pivoted to provide training to responders in 2020
- Collaborating on the build of a new TRANSCAER Canada Safety Car
- Logging in to Transport Canada’s EOS system before the January 31, 2021 deadline
Read the Q4 newsletter today.
Happy holidays from the ERAC team!
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