Letter from the President

An important piece of legislation that will see propane exempted from the federal carbon tax is one step closer to becoming law. On March 29, Bill C-234, a Private Member’s Bill sponsored by Ontario Conservative MP Ben Lobb, was passed at Third Reading in the House of Commons.

The bill – An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act – was passed by a vote of 176-145 in favour, receiving support from the Conservatives, the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Quebecois, and a handful of Liberal MPs. Bill C-234 will next be debated in the Senate. The CPA will continue to advocate for its passage.

Assuming it is passed by the Senate, C-234 will receive Royal Assent and become law. Most observers expect that to happen by the end of June. Read more.

The CPA has participated in several recent discussions about the potential challenges the Canadian grid system faces in light of the 2035 net-zero targets, most recently at the North American Natural Gas Summit and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce Electricity Roundtable.

Ensuring access to reliable energy systems continues to be a core component of the decarbonization discussions. Notably, Electricity Canada recently published its 2023 state of the industry report, highlighting the considerable challenges grid systems across the country face, namely the challenging regulatory system and infrastructure permitting process and increasing grid instability. The report states that “over the past 10 years, the average number of hours of interrupted service has steadily increased.”

The CPA continues to promote propane as an essential primary or backup energy source. Canadians should have uninterrupted access to energy, no matter where they live or what the weather may bring. The CPA continues to support decarbonization goals and recognizes that energy cost and reliability are top of mind for many Canadians and will continue to advocate for its members with provincial and federal decision-makers.

The B.C. Government recently issued the Clean Transportation Action Plan  (CTA) for feedback. The purpose of the CTAP is to identify the next set of actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector by 27-32% by 2030 and increase economic opportunities in clean transportation in B.C.

The CTAP is intended to take actions across five foundational areas: reducing vehicle kilometers traveled, shifting to more efficient modes, increasing vehicle efficiency, and transitioning the market to zero-emission vehicles and cleaner fuels. The CPA will be working with the BC Committee on its submission (April 5 deadline).

The CPA submission will encourage the government to implement a flexible, outcomes-based policy that is technology neutral. We support a provincial transportation emissions policy and regulatory structure that promotes flexible and cost-effective compliance pathways, encourages investment in advanced technologies, and provides immediate benefits for the people of B.C. The CPA believes that setting ambitious and achievable emissions reductions standards, paired with meaningful policy flexibility to accommodate a diverse array of compliance strategies, is an appropriate approach for bringing continued environmental progress in an affordable manner. For further information please contact VP of Government Relations, West, Katie Kachur (katiekachur@propane.ca).

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) is now accepting GHG reports for the 2022 calendar year:

• File your report using ECCC’s Single Window system.
• Deadline to report is June 1, 2023

Do you need to report? Submit a GHG report if your facility:

• Emitted 10 kilotonnes or more of GHGs in 2022;
• Was involved in carbon capture, transport, injection or storage activities in 2022.

Find more information on the reporting requirements in the Notice with respect to reporting of greenhouse gases (GHGs) for 2022 and 2023.

Facilities in the following sectors or conducting the following activities are required to submit an expanded GHG report and follow the methodological requirements outlined in Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Quantification Requirements (2022) (QR):

Reporting is mandatory: Facilities in violation may face penalties as listed under Section 272 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Resources to help you report to the GHGRP:

• Technical Guidance on Reporting GHG Emissions
• Questions and Answers (Updated)
• Video Tutorials  (new video highlighting changes for 2022)
• Instructions for using the Single Window system (Updated)

For more information, contact: Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, Environment and Climate Change Canada / Government of Canada
GES-GHG@ec.gc.ca, Toll Free: 1-877-877-8375, Local Telephone: 819-938-3258

Members province-wide are finding that heat pumps are frequently being improperly installed when they arrive at a location to fill an existing propane system. Heat pump installers are responding to the increased request for heat pumps due to the federal government’s incentives to electrify residential homes, however, many seem unaware of the code requirements.

The most significant issue is installers are not following the code requirement for sources of ignition to be located three metres from a gas installation. The code requires this setback to ensure gas is not inadvertently subjected to an ignition source that could cause a hazard. When the setback is not followed, propane distributors are forced to refuse delivery of the propane.

The CPA has been in contact with regulators across Canada; they are encouraging propane providers to report these installation concerns to help them address the issue with the installers of the heat pump system. The heat pump installer is required to rectify the situation, often resulting in the propane container to be moved. That work should be at the heat pump installer’s expense as it was their installation that created the non-compliance.

This recall affects the 2018 Forest River Cherokee. On certain vehicles, the valve fitting on low flow propane gas line to the refrigerator may have been adjusted improperly. This could create the potential for a propane leak, which in the presence of an ignition source could lead to a fire and/or an explosion, increasing the risk of injury and/or damage to property.

Required Action: Dealers must ensure the pressure tap nut is present and is tightened to proper specification. Click here for more information.

Access the latest updates (as of March 15, 2023) for seasonal load restrictions on trucks in the province of Ontario here.

The Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration recently issued two bulletins:

Safety Bulletin #0000019

Technical Safety Standards Regulations – Adoption of Updated Boiler and Pressure Equipment (BPE) Codes, contains updated versions of 21 BPE codes.

Safety Bulletin #0000021

Technical Safety Standards Regulations – Adoption of Fuel Safety Codes contains updated versions of seven Fuel Safety Codes.

The updated codes for both bulletins came into force on February 7, 2023. Industry will be granted a 90-day period from the date of issue of the safety bulletins – February 28, 2023, to adjust any current work procedures and processes prior to any compliance and enforcement plan.

Additional information can be found at Boiler and Pressure Equipment (BPE) | novascotia.ca, and Fuel Safety | novascotia.ca in the Safety Notification sections.