MB: Areas for improvement identified at meetings with provincial regulator

Meetings with various departments of the Manitoba government have taken place over the past month, with the overarching goals to streamline the regulatory process for propane in the province as well as educate policymakers about the benefits of propane.

The CPA met with two departments within Inspectional and Technical Services (ITS) to identify challenges and concerns with the regulatory processes for propane, including but not limited to, inspection frequency, increased inspection costs, inspection criteria, tank data, risk and safety management plan requirements, and overall communication and engagement with the propane sector from the government and the regulator. The meetings were positive and initial progress has been made in identifying some areas of improvement and clarification. The CPA will work with the Manitoba Committee on follow-up and the next steps.  

The CPA is engaged with the federal government’s Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table (RCT) to support the alignment and harmonization of provincial regulations related to propane. The CPA is also working with the Manitoba government in support of this initiative. It is hoped that propane regulation streamlining will be part of the 2023 RCT work plan.

In November, the CPA met with Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade, Cliff Cullen to highlight the modest but important role propane plays in the province in terms of home heating and emissions reduction opportunities with agriculture and transportation.

The CPA also reached out to all rural MLAs in Manitoba in November to highlight the importance of propane in their respective ridings, and to seek support for regulatory reform of propane to ensure it is readily accessible across the province and can be used to displace other high-emission energy sources.