NEW – ON: Cabinet shuffle means new ministers for key files

Premier Ford’s Cabinet shuffle on June 18, 2021 moved key ministers on files the CPA had been advancing on members’ behalf.

 They include:  

• The Hon. David Piccini was named the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, taking over from Jeff Yurek.
• The Hon. Ross Romano is now the Minister of Government and Consumer Services. He replaces the Hon. Lisa Thompson, who assumes the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs portfolio.
• The Hon. Todd A. Smith became the Minister of Energy.
• The Hon. Greg Rickford had energy removed from his responsibilities while adding Natural Resources.

REGULATORY IMPACT

Environment, Conservation and Parks – The final Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) regulation (O. Reg.449/21), was posted on June 8, 2021 under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act. Since then, the CPA has been lobbying the minister to proceed with the exemption of refillable propane cylinders as proposed in the draft regulation, or refrain from declaring this part of the regulation in effect until an acceptable remedy is reached (see full story below, UPDATE – ON: CPA member advisory upcoming consultation on hazardous and special products fees).

On June 22, 2021, CPA President an CEO Nathalie St-Pierre wrote to the new minister congratulating him on his new portfolio while introducing the propane sector and requesting an immediate meeting to resolve the treatment of refillable propane cylinders in the new HSP regime.

Ministry of Government and Consumer Services – The CPA has been working with the former minister’s office on resolving the huge fee increases imposed on the propane sector resulting from the Technical Standards and Safety Authority’s (TSSA) business model change in May 2021. When Minister Romano was announced, St-Pierre wrote to him with congratulations and a request to meet on the outstanding issue of TSSA fee increases. The former minister was a professional farmer and propane user, so her removal from this portfolio represents a loss for the sector.

Minister of Energy – The new Minister will need to be briefed on the importance of the propane sector to the province’s suite of energy sources as he is new to Cabinet. In a letter welcoming him to the portfolio, the CPA requested a meeting and highlighted the impact of the government’s natural gas expansion program on other fuels and community economic well-being.  

 The CPA is reaching out to existing and new staff in these offices to maintain momentum on these files.