ON: CPA Pushes Ontario on Auto Propane and Rural Energy Initiatives

Throughout October and November, the CPA continued to advocate on key industry issues to the Ontario Government. In particular, lobbying efforts have focused on the inclusion of propane in the new Green Commercial Vehicle Program (GCVP) and CPA’s proposal for a new Rural Propane Retrofit Program.

As part of this push, on October 17 and 18, CPA representatives met with the following Ontario Government representatives:

• Ministry of Environment & Climate Change – Mandy Maghera, Minister’s Chief of Staff
• Ministry of Transportation – Jonathan Sweeney-Bergen, Senior Policy Advisor; Michael Brewer, Senior Policy Advisor; and Anita Hooper, Manager at the Passenger Transportation Office
• Premier’s Office – Greg Seniuk, Senior Policy Advisor
• Ted Arnott, PC Critic for Environment & Climate Change
• Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs – Jason Lagerquist, Minister’s Chief of Staff and Tom Lewis, Senior Policy Advisor
• Ministry of Energy – Andrew Teliszewsky, Minister’s Chief of Staff and Craig Ruttan, Policy Advisor on Energy Supply

The main discussion point on both the GCVP and the Rural Propane Retrofit Program is that while propane can help lower energy costs and emissions, it is not being included in programs related to the Climate Change Action Plan. Furthermore, rural and remote communities are being ignored and the Ontario government must develop programs that respond to their needs.

The CPA thanks all members who have met with government officials and sent letters to their MPPs on these issues. The CPA will continue to aggressively advocate for the industry over the coming months to ensure that propane, as a ready-to-go solution for some of the major energy and environmental challenges facing Ontario, is included in government policy.