NEW! NB: Progressive Conservatives plan to upgrade low income housing should include propane

On September 14, voters in New Brunswick re-elected the Progressive Conservatives. With 25 seats needed to form a majority, the Progressive Conservatives were elected in 27 ridings, the Liberals in 17, the Green Party in three and the People's Alliance in two.

Premier Blaine Higgs and the members of the Executive Council were sworn in at a ceremony held September 29, 2020 in Fredericton, NB. New appointments of interest to the propane industry: Gary Crossman – Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation; Ernie Steeves – Minister of Finance and Treasury Board; Hugh John (Ted) Flemming – Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Attorney General; Jill Green – Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure' and Mike Holland (to be sworn-in at a later date) – Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development.

Of interest to the propane industry in New Brunswick, the PC party election platform included a commitment to renovate and repair low-income housing in the province. “Repairing old housing stock is required to make what exists more usable. In New Brunswick, approximately 12,000 low-income households are categorized as needing major repairs, and that is higher than the national average. By 2022, the agreement will fund the repair and renovation of more than 5,100 affordable rental units across the province.”

Low-emission propane plays a key role in providing a green energy alternative to carbon intense fuels such as heating oil. The CPA will be looking for an early opportunity to meet with the re-elected party to discuss the advantage of low-emission propane in home energy.