ON: Productive meeting with government on key issues for propane industry

A very productive meeting with Government and Consumer Services Minister Bill Walker highlighted a busy meeting schedule at Queen’s Park in December.

 

Attending the meeting with the minister was CPA President Nathalie St-Pierre, CPA Board Chair Dan Kelly, Jacco Bos, Manager, Engineering & Special Projects, Budget Propane and CPA Vice-President of Government Relations, Allan Murphy.

The meeting with the minister focused on several issues: reducing regulatory burden and unnecessary expenses concerning the issue of tank inspection, ensuring that providers of LNG and CNG be required to have a Risk and Safety Management Plan and, from a regulatory perspective, the need for a level playing field for propane concerning issues such as refueling.

 

The issue of smart meters was also raised with the minister. Presently some smart meters being installed are considered a source of ignition. Once they are installed near existing propane installations, the propane installation becomes non-compliant, which is unfair and costs have to be incurred by either CPA members or our customers to move the propane installation.

 

The CPA said it believes that smart meter installers must be responsible for the safe installation, comply with all applicable safety codes and for the cost of moving a smart meter (or a propane installation) as a result of the improper installation of a smart meter. Follow up with the minister’s office on these issues will continue.

The CPA also met with senior staff from other Ontario ministers including transportation, economic development and energy, northern development and mines. Those discussions focused on such matters as concerns regarding natural gas expansion, seasonal load restrictions and hours of service.
These and other issues will be on the table when the CPA holds its Queens Park Lobby Day on February 20 in Toronto.