In December, Technical Safety BC (TSBC) sent a draft directive on Propane Filling Plants and Container Refill Centers to stakeholders in our industry for comment. The CPA drafted and presented a detailed submission to TSBC that included members’ comments and suggestions.

The Government of Saskatchewan has announced that SaskPower’s Gas and Electrical Inspections division will be transitioning over to the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan (TSASK). This transition, which was announced in December 2018, will take place over the course of 2019-20 and is expected to be completed by Fall 2020. Over this same period, plumbing inspections and licensing currently done through the Saskatchewan Health Authority, will also be moved to TSASK.

The Saskatchewan government has sent a survey, Red Tape Survey of The Gas Licensing Regulations, to propane companies doing business in the province to get their feedback on the level of administrative burden faced by the industry. Reduction of administrative burden is a priority for the association and the CPA strongly encourages Saskatchewan members make their voices heard. Click here to complete the survey.

As many Ontario members know, on January 25, the Ontario government announced $27 million in support of a new liquified natural gas plant in Nipigon, which it says will create jobs and make businesses more competitive in Northern Ontario.

In January, the CPA filed a submission with the Ontario government as it develops its Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan. In its submission, the CPA showed the vital role propane can play in a low-emission Ontario and demonstrated the game changing advantages the expanded use of propane can have for transportation and home energy.

The CPA along with some of its Ontario members participated in the Ontario government’s pre-budget consultation process. Ontarians were asked to submit their ideas for the upcoming budget, the first for the new Progressive Conservative government.

The CPA’s revitalised Ontario Committee held its first meeting on Wednesday, January 30, 2019. Assisted by CPA staff, committee Chair Greg Thibodeau and Vice-Chair Daryl Patjas convened the meeting in Cambridge, welcoming 36 members.

The province of Nova Scotia is in the process of reinstating the Technical Safety Advisory Board that was in place in the past. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to advise the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education on major system-wide initiatives, concerns or problems identified by the minister or his department for the Advisory Board’s consideration.

On January 23, 2019, the council of the Atlantic Premiers met to discuss economic growth and regulatory cooperation in Prince Edward Island. Of key interest to the propane industry was the discussion on regulatory alignment aimed at promoting regulatory efficiency within Atlantic Canada.

The CPA is pleased to welcome Marcelline Riddell as the new Director of Government Relations for Ontario and Sherri Clair as the new Manager, Events and Marketing.

The Ontario government has passed legislation to subsidize the expansion of natural gas service to existing and new consumers. As the CPA has been advocating, expanding natural gas is expensive and is not always the best choice for consumers, as per the recent story in Global News on February 8: New natural-gas customers in Kawartha Lakes upset with Enbridge monthly expansion-surcharge fee.

As announced in the December newsletter, the CPA is participating in the inaugural Forward Summit, a three-day gathering of Indigenous communities and industry leaders at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre on February 26-28. The Summit brings together Indigenous leaders and Canada’s major industries to discuss important topics surrounding workforce, finance, economic growth and mutually beneficial partnerships.