The CPA is pleased to report that Transport Canada (TC) is providing an extension on the 10-year pressure relief valve replacement schedule. The CPA approached TC for the extension in response to membership concerns on difficulties in meeting the timeline.

Measurement Canada has made some minor revisions to the following document: S-G-08—Specification for the verification, reverification, installation and use of electronic volume conversion devices and functions.

Without including the CPA’s objections, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has published new edits to its Environmental Emergency guidelines that do not appropriately exclude residential and farming applications from having to adhere to Environmental Emergency (E2) Plan requirements. This regulation came into force in August of 2019. 

Shortly after Technical Safety BC (TSBC) sent out a survey asking for stakeholder feedback on their proposed 2021-2023 fee changes, the CPA sent a letter to TSBC requesting a freeze on a fee increase for the remainder of 2021.

In late 2020, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation began consulting on their plans to integrate emissions testing for heavy-diesel vehicles with its vehicle safety program, the Motor Vehicle Inspection Station program.

On Dec. 21, 2020, the Ministry of Environment and the Fight against Climate Change published the Québec Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2018 and their evolution since 1990. For the year 2018, emissions decreased by 0.1% compared to 2017. Although the province of Québec did not succeed in reducing its GHG emissions significantly, the slight drop observed in 2018 marks a turnaround from the 2.6% increase registered between 2016 and 2017. 

Transport Canada temporary certificates that were put in place to allow industry to forgo dangerous goods renewal training and inspection requirements that were difficult to achieve due to COVID-19 challenges are set to expire. BE PREPARED – Renew your TDG training certificates with PTI’S Transportation of Dangerous Goods – Propane/LPG Specific – 100-03. This course is now fully online, including the exam. 

Read the "Message from the PTI Executive Director" in the latest issue of the CPA's Energized magazine on how training and education will play a critical role in supporting Canada's economic recovery as we leave the pandemic behind and how the Propane Training Institute is ready to meet the challenges ahead. Access the full issue on the CPA website. 

The CPA/PTI continue to reduce costs and increase efficiencies. 

Provinces continue to adjust to the pandemic by reducing or increasing the size of groups for indoor and outdoor public and private gatherings, depending on rising case numbers. Check out Destination Canada's up-to-date information on regulations for safely meeting across Canada.

Please refer to the CPA's Best practices recommended during COVID-19 - Measures for Reopening your Retail Operations, produced to assist you in hosting a training session during COVID-19.

As some provinces increase restrictions and implement ‘stay at home orders’, the CPA has prepared an example of a document attesting to the authorization to travel for an essential service within a province, or across provincial boundaries should the need arise.

Access these links for government financial support programs related to COVID-19:

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy

Resources for Canadian businesses for COVID-19 relief | EDC

With the challenges brought on by cold weather and the holiday season, winter can often be a difficult time. But with COVID-19, this year’s winter may be even more demanding on our mental health and well-being. This mini-guide is designed to help employers provide workers with specific tools and resources during the winter months.

On November 12, the province of Manitoba moved to the Critical level (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System to halt COVID-19 transmission. These Public Health Orders have been extended to January 22 and will continue to restrict gatherings at private residences and allow critical retailers to only sell essential items.

Premier Ford says Ontario’s new COVID-19 rules are simple – Stay home. The province issued a Stay-at-Home Order and introduced new measures aimed at limiting people's mobility and reducing the number of daily contacts with those outside an immediate household.

With the Québec government’s recent announcement on January 6, 2021, the lockdown issued prior to the holidays has been extended for at least another four weeks, in addition to new restrictions that include a mandatory curfew from 8 pm to 5 am EST until at least Feb. 8, 2021. Propane deliveries will be maintained, however, the industry is asked to minimize travel during curfew periods and prioritize daytime deliveries. If required to travel during the curfew due to work, employees must carry a document completed by their employer that demonstrates such travel is legitimate. Download the form.

Measures put in place to help contain the spread of COVID-19 are gradually changing. As restrictions change, Nova Scotian’s need to continue to follow public health directives for gathering and social distancing.

Effective January 6, 2021, the temporary post circuit breaker holiday measures are in place; these measures are expected to be in place until January 25, 2021. All businesses, services and organizations, as well as organizers of organized gatherings, are required to have measures in place to mitigate transmission of COVID-19 and to develop and follow an operational plan detailing those measures.

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador are presently at Level 2 of their Alert level system, which means:

• Distanced gatherings run by a recognized business or organization are expanded to 100 people as long as physical distancing can be maintained, with restrictions.
• Distanced gatherings that are not run by a recognized business or organization (like a family event in the backyard) are permitted for up to 20 people as long as physical distancing can be maintained, with restrictions. 

Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) safety standards published by CSA Group referenced in federal TDG regulations can be accessed for free here.

• BC Committee - October 20 Meeting
• Saskatchewan Committee - January 13 Meeting
• Auto Propane Committee - September 17 Meeting
• Manitoba Committee - February 12 Meeting
• Alberta Committee - October 15 Meeting
• Ontario Committee - September 29 Meeting
• Transportation Committee - December 8 Meeting
• Regulatory Affairs Committee - December 15 Meeting
• Atlantic Committee - September 24 Meeting

Meeting summaries can be found in the Document Centre in your online member profile. Click here to log in to your member profile.

Date: February 10, 2021
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm CST
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.

Date: February 17, 2021
Time: 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm EST
To attend the Committee, please contact Jean-François Duguay.

Date: March 9, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am PST
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.

Date: March 16, 2021
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
To attend the Committee, please contact Robert Loenhart.

Date: March 18, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am ADT
To attend the Committee, please contact Jean-François Duguay.

Date: March 23, 2021
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
To attend the Committee, please contact Robert Loenhart.

Date: March 26, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am MDT
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.

Due to the pandemic, the Canadian Propane Association has cancelled all seminar in-person events for the time being. Please monitor our Events web page for up-to-date information.