On June 29, the new Progressive Conservative government of Ontario was sworn in and affirmed in a public ceremony on the front steps of Queen’s Park. Premier Doug Ford appointed 20 new cabinet ministers. Click here for a complete list of cabinet appointments.

CPA President and CEO Nathalie St-Pierre wrote to Premier Ford to extend congratulations on behalf of the members of the Canadian Propane Association.

 

In her letter to Premier Ford, St-Pierre noted that the propane industry creates about 2,000 local jobs in Ontario. Additionally, the industry’s footprint includes an estimated $335 million generated in government revenues (or fiscal impacts) across Canada, collected in the form of federal, provincial, and municipal taxes – including $128 million in Ontario.

 

Approximately 100,000 households in Ontario rely on propane as their primary source of heating fuel. St-Pierre also indicated to the new premier that propane is widely used in commercial, industrial and agricultural applications.

 

St-Pierre took the opportunity to alert the Premier to the unlevel playing field for the propane industry in Ontario.

 

“In the past 10 years, propane has been pushed aside by Ontario policymakers in favour of other ‘clean’ energy technologies that are still in early stages of development and take a considerable amount of time, resources and financing to fully implement,” said St-Pierre. “It is our hope that under the new Progressive Conservative government, the focus can return to common sense energy solutions that help reduce greenhouse gases.”

 

St-Pierre closed her letter to Premier Ford indicating that the Ontario propane industry will work with the new premier and his cabinet.

 

“As your government shapes its plan for furthering Ontario’s economic prosperity that puts consumers and communities first, you will find the propane industry a willing and helpful partner,” wrote St-Pierre.

 

The CPA will look to engage Ontario ministers in the coming weeks to further discuss the propane advantage for Ontario. To this end, the Association will be preparing a strategy in the next few weeks and will assess how best to move the Green Commercial Vehicle Program forward and switch off oil in this new context.