Propane Plays Important Role in Reaching Climate Change Objectives Says Canadian Association

OTTAWA, Canada (May 19, 2016) The Canadian Propane Association (CPA) responded to a leaked report in the media regarding sweeping changes to the Ontario government’s approach to addressing climate change.

“The CPA supports the government’s efforts to reduce Ontario’s carbon footprint,” said Andrea Labelle, Executive Director of the Canadian Propane Association. “While we understand that the plan reported by the Globe & Mail is a draft version, we want to work with the government to ensure that propane is not overlooked as an important element in the final strategy.” Labelle added, “We are also encouraged by the fact that the draft plan runs contrary to the considerations currently underway by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to approve uneconomic natural gas infrastructure expansion into rural Ontario, which would be subsidized by existing natural gas customers.”

Propane is a low-emission and efficient Canadian energy source. Over 100,000 homes across the province use propane as their primary heating fuel and it is also used as an essential energy source for the mining sector and the agriculture industry. Propane is also a cost-effective fuel option for school buses, and public and private fleets. Propane can make a significant contribution to attaining Ontario’s long-term carbon reduction goals by replacing carbon-intensive home heating and auto fleet fuels with a cost- effective alternative that is market-ready today.

“Propane not only makes an impact on consumers, but also on Ontario’s economy. Leaving it out of the climate change action plan would negatively affect propane businesses, the communities they operate in, and the hard-working Ontarians they employ,” said Labelle. Ontario’s propane industry has an economic impact of $1.9 billion each year, and employs over 3,000 Ontarians. It invests millions of dollars every year into storage and distribution infrastructure and it also contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and royalties.

“We believe that propane is an important element in Ontario’s low-carbon future. Propane is a cost-effective, low-emission source of energy that supports the livelihood of thousands of Ontarians and generates billions of dollars for the local economy,” added Labelle. “The Canadian Propane Association and its members look forward to continuing to work with the Ontario Government to provide access to clean, efficient and affordable energy for consumers.”

The Canadian Propane Association (CPA) is the national association for the growing, multi-billion dollar propane industry that impacts the livelihood of tens of thousands of Canadians. The CPA develops and produces industry training materials, offers an emergency response assistance plan to its members and provides advocacy services for the propane industry.