NEW! PEI: CPA advises climate change policies must be affordable for Islanders

On August 11, the CPA filed additional comments with a PEI legislative committee that has made recommendations to the provincial government regarding next steps in the fight against climate change.

The comments were made in relation to the Special Committee Report published in July that presented the results of its initial consultation, in which the CPA had also participated.

The comments filed by CPA Atlantic Government Relations Director, Jean-François Duguay, noted that as the CPA reviewed the report, it became clear that, “an important priority of the committee and indeed for all Islanders, whether they directly participated in your comprehensive consultation or not, is the development of policies that will make Prince Edward Island an even healthier province in which to live, and to do so in a manner that is affordable for all.”

Of specific interest was the legislature’s instruction to the committee under Motion 37 for the province to,  “ adopt emission reduction measures that are cost effective in order to reduce, as much as possible, the potential burden on Islanders and Island businesses of reducing emissions.”

Duguay noted that there were many committee recommendations that were consistent with the values of low-emission propane. The expanded use of propane will immediately make the province cleaner by reducing GHGs, and can do so in a way that will be practical and, most importantly, economical for all Islanders whether they live in urban or rural settings.

The CPA noted immediate steps that the committee and the government should consider implementing as the province transitions to a lower carbon lifestyle. They include:

• Working with industry to design a program that would make it affordable for energy users to switch from carbon-intense fuels such as heating oil to propane. This would result in an immediate reduction in GHGs while reducing energy costs for Islanders. 
• Reducing GHGs in its own operations by switching from heating oil to low-emission propane.
• Providing incentives for the conversion of commercial fleets from gasoline to propane, including following the success of other jurisdictions by investing in propane-powered government fleets such as police cars.
• Investing in propane-powered school buses, thereby reducing GHGs and providing a more comfortable student experience.
• Transitioning agriculture and fisheries from their dependence on carbon-intense fuels to low-emission propane.

The CPA will be seeking opportunities to have further discussions with members of the Special Committee and government officials.