Updates to CFR supporting documents

The Low Carbon Fuels Division is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the following Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) supporting documents: Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Data Catalogue:   

• CFR Specifications for Fuel LCA Model Carbon Intensity Calculations (pre-publication version 2.3); and 
• CFR Data Workbook (pre-publication version 2.3).   

Note that these documents are not official publications and therefore cannot be used for compliance with the CFR. Stakeholders must continue to use version 2.0 of the above-mentioned CFR supporting documents, published in January 2023. This pre-publication is to gather stakeholder feedback on these proposed changes for future updates.   

Quantification Method for Low-Carbon-Intensity Hydrogen Integration 

The pre-publication also provides an opportunity for comments, in the context of the Quantification Method for Low-Carbon Intensity Hydrogen Integration, on the following elements of the pre-publication:   

• Indirect Accounting of Electricity (case 6 of section 4.6) 
• Indirect Accounting of Material Inputs (case 7 of section 4.6)   

The Quantification Method for Low-Carbon-Intensity Hydrogen Integration will incorporate a similar approach in the case of RNG used in the production of hydrogen and hydrogen used in the production of liquid fossil fuels.    

ECCC encourages you to review the documents and provide comments to cfsncp@ec.gc.ca by the end of the day April 26, 2024. Any comments received after that point may not be considered. The next formal publication is scheduled for the end of June 2024.    

The proposed changes are described in the document titled Pre-publication 2.3: Proposed Changes to Version 2.0 of the CFR Supporting Documents and cover the following topics:   

• Feedstock Transportation 
• Gaseous Fuel and Material Inputs 
• Renewable Electricity 
• International Electricity Grids 
• Subdivision of Flows 
• Indirect Accounting of Electricity (case 6 of section 4.6) 
• Indirect Accounting of Material Inputs (case 7 of section 4.6) 
• Low-CI Fuel Distribution 
• New Pathway Applications 
• Configurable Unit Processes 
• Supplemental Specifications – Bioethanol 
• Addition of Raw Used Cooking Oil 
• Supplemental Specifications – Renewable Hydrocarbon Biofuels 
• Supplemental Specifications – Hydrogen 
• Supplemental Specifications – RNG and Biogas 
• Carbon Capture 
• Avoided Emissions from the Use of Waste Feedstocks 
• Avoided Emissions from Solid Organic Waste 
• Miscellaneous   

ECCC has also recently pre-published modules for the Fuel Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). More information regarding these pre-published modules can be accessed via the following link: Fuel LCA Model. Note that these pre-published modules cannot be used for compliance with the CFR. Stakeholders must continue to use the Fuel LCA Model Database published in January 2023. 

For feedback and questions related to the CFR and CFR supporting documents, please contact the Low Carbon Fuels Division at cfsncp@ec.gc.ca. For feedback and questions related to the Fuel LCA Model, please contact the Fuel LCA Model team at modeleacvcarburant-fuellcamodel@ec.gc.ca.  

Deadline to submit your comments on the draft of B149.1:25 – Natural gas and propane installation code is April 29, 2024. The CSA will review the comments at the planned meeting on June 6, 2024.   

The mandatory use of speed-limiter devices came into effect on April 5, 2024, as announced by the province in December 2023. Heavy commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 11,793 kilograms manufactured after 1994 will be required to have the devices installed in their vehicles to operate in the province. The devices must be programmed to a maximum speed of 105 km/h, which prevents these vehicles from accelerating past that speed. 

The legislative amendments made to the Motor Vehicle Act mean that any contraventions, including not being equipped with a speed limiter or not having it accurately programmed, will result in a fine, including a victim surcharge of $368. 

Some vehicles are exempt from the legislation, including emergency vehicles and motorhomes, as well as in certain circumstances, such as during emergency response or if the vehicle is equipped with an electronic control module that is incapable of meeting the speed limiter requirements. Exemptions are made at the discretion of the director of Commercial Vehicle and Safety Enforcement.   

The change aligns B.C. with other jurisdictions where these requirements have seen reductions in crashes. As heavy commercial vehicles regularly travel cross-country, speed limiters are seen to provide consistency for carriers and truckers who travel between B.C., Ontario and Quebec, where these requirements also exist. For more details on the regulations, read the Bulletin – Over-height Regulations, Speed Limiters and In-Cab Warning Devices. 

The following Joint STANDATA is now available on the Alberta.ca website. Follow the links below to view or print copies. 

• 23-BCI-001 – Use of shipping containers (sea-cans) for storage 
  • STANDATA interpretation: building [National Building Code-2023 Alberta Edition] 
  • STANDATA interpretation: fire [National fire Code-2023 Alberta Edition] 

For more information on Alberta Safety Codes: www.alberta.ca/safety-codes or email safety.services@gov.ab.ca. 

A survey conducted by the federal government in 2020 found that 47% of women and 31% of men reported harassment in Canadian workplaces. These incidents are a significant increase from 2018 when 19% of women and 13% of men said they had been harassed at work.  

Violence in a place of employment means threats, including a threatening statement or threatening behaviour that gives an employee reasonable cause to believe that the employee is at risk of physical injury, or conduct or attempted conduct of a person that endangers the physical health or physical safety of an employee. 

The Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, Safety Branch, in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, is providing free online training courses focused on psychological health and safety in the workplace and violence in the workplace. Nova Scotians can take up to five courses each year for free. You can register for courses on the CCOHS Nova Scotia OHS Training site. 

Find information, direct links to legislation, educational offerings and other resources on Nova SAFE, Safety Information Made Simple. Link to the topics of harassment and violence here. Updated publications of Assessing the Risk of Workplace Violence and the Violence Risk Assessment are located on the Health and Safety section of the Safety Branch website.