NEW! Federal: CPA reaches out to new conservative leader and shadow cabinet members

In late August, Ontario MP and former cabinet member in the Harper Conservative government, Erin O’Toole, was elected leader of the federal Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition.

On September 2, CPA President and CEO Nathalie St-Pierre wrote to congratulate O’Toole. In her letter, St-Pierre noted that, “Propane is an important part of Canada’s energy portfolio and it can be a game changer due to its clean properties, especially at a time when Canadians are looking for healthy and environmentally sound solutions that are market ready today.”

St-Pierre also pointed out that the propane industry creates billions in GDP per year and supports close to 21,000 direct jobs across Canada. It also directly generates about $1 billion per year in government revenues. “Many of our industry members operate family-run businesses in small town or rural Canada; they understand first-hand the importance of fostering economic growth, increasing competitiveness, creating jobs and identifying business opportunities. They live it every day.”

St-Pierre added that CPA members play an important role in their communities, whether it be volunteering their time, donating to community projects, sponsoring local sports teams and most importantly, create good paying local jobs. “Our members also strongly believe that the expansion of low-emission propane allows us to be important stewards of the environment while helping to grow the economy and Canada’s oil and gas industry.”

In addition to calling on O’Toole to support fostering a business environment that will assist the propane industry, the CPA reached out to the relevant shadow cabinet members that he appointed on September 8. This included MPs responsible for new shadow cabinet duties pertaining to portfolios such as agriculture, Indigenous services, transport, natural resources, environment and rural economic development. The CPA has requested an opportunity to meet with them and discuss the propane industry and their respective critic responsibility. 

The first meeting with a shadow cabinet member was held on September 16 with MP Stephanie Kusie. Ms. Kusie is the MP for Calgary Midnapore and the Conservative Party’s transport critic.

The CPA will continue to look to meet with members of the Official Opposition, the government and other opposition parties to discuss the importance of the propane industry in Canada.