CPA Public Affairs
August 2018
Advocacy News
On July 25, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Rod Phillips announced details of legislation that would, if passed, formally end the cap-and-trade carbon tax era in Ontario. According to the government, eliminating carbon taxes will save the average family $260 per year and help reduce gas prices by 10 cents per litre.
 
 
On July 18, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled the Federal Cabinet. From the perspective of the propane industry, of interest is the reassignment of Jim Carr, former natural resources minister. Minister Carr has been given a new post as the minister of international trade diversification, formally known as international trade.
 
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has informed stakeholders that it is updating the approach for the Clean Fuel Standard (CFS), which it says will “ensure it is developed in a way that supports the transition to lower-carbon fuels throughout our economy, while also supporting Canada’s competitiveness.”
 
The Federal Carbon Pricing Backstop is now law in Canada. On June 21, Royal Assent was given to the Federal Budget Bill (C-74). An important element of the budget legislation was the establishment of a carbon pollution pricing “backstop,” which is part of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. Provinces were to have their plans revealed to the federal government by September.
 
The British Columbia government has introduced Bill 34, an act to amend the original Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act, to update the province’s greenhouse gas reduction targets. Bill 34, which will be known as the Climate Change Accountability Act, will guide all efforts in GHG reduction programs and is designed to meet a new set of emissions objectives for a 40 per cent reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 (from the 2007 benchmark) and a 60 per cent reduction by 2040.
 
As of June 1, the Alberta Government has put Bill 19 into effect and the new measures are designed to reduce or eliminate gas-and-dash incidents that have been occurring in Alberta. Customers are now required to prepay for fuel purchases at any retail fuelling location, including propane for vehicles and cylinders.
 
For some time now, Saskatchewan member companies wishing to have their employees trained as gas fitters had to send their apprentices to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary or the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Vancouver. While both Alberta and British Columbia offer recognized courses, and Manitoba offers a Red Seal gas fitter course for both A and B gas fitters at Red River College, no such course is offered directly in Saskatchewan.
 
Members of the CPA Manitoba Committee, Glen Scrivener (C&T Rentals), Neil Atkins (Stittco Energy), Blair Overby (Federate Co-op Ltd.) and CPA Director of Government Relations (West) Darren Cunningham, met with Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade Blaine Pedersen to discuss a number of the industry’s concerns. Of utmost importance are the delays in obtaining information and clarifications on appeals, regulations, approvals and other requests sent to the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) that have negatively impacted business activities for the propane industry over the years.
 
CPA President and CEO Nathalie St-Pierre wrote to Premier Ford to extend congratulations on behalf of members. The newly elected Progressive Conservative government of Ontario was sworn in on June 29.
 
On July 12, the Progressive Conservative government delivered the 42nd Parliament’s opening Speech from the Throne. The speech highlighted the government’s new tone and focus on advancing policies pledged during the election campaign.
 
In keeping with their commitment to end Ontario’s Cap and Trade program, on July 3, the newly elected Progressive Conservative government filed Ontario Regulation 386/18: Prohibition Against the Purchase, Sale and Other Dealings with Emission Allowances Credits effective immediately. The new regulation replaces Ontario Regulation 144/16 – the Cap and Trade Program under the Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act, 2016.
 
On July 5, Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil announced a Cabinet shuffle that sees an MLA joining the Cabinet and another returning to a previous portfolio.
 
MaXfield Inc.
MaxQuip
Propane Training Institute
 
   
The CPA’s Propane Training Institute is dedicated to offering the best in competency-focused programs to assist the propane industry and customers in ensuring employees are ready to work safely and effectively. The CPA is currently updating all training manuals, revising content, procedures and updates to the Codes and Standards as well implementing a new layout that is easier to read and maneuver.
 
CPA News
The CPA welcomed four new CPA board of directors members at the last board meeting held in June. Please join the association in welcoming Ian Appleton (Parkland), Corey Boone (Diversco Supply), Nancy Borden (VI Propane Services) and James Callow (Budget Propane Corp.). 
 
Diversco
National Energy Equipment Inc.
Dependable Truck & Tank Limited
Cavagna North America
ERAC
You may have heard about the conference, but have you seen the lineup? In addition to keynote speakers Warren MacDonald and Darby Allen, the conference also boasts a number of dynamic and skilled leaders in our industry.
 
You know you need one – it’s mandated by Environment and Climate Change Canada – but you’re not sure how to get started on an Environmental Emergency (E2) plan? Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC) can help.
 
 

 

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