HRAI members may recall reports prior to the federal election about HRAI’s involvement with the major federal parties in discussions about their policy platforms. With the election concluded, it appears that Canadians have voiced their support for more concerted action to address the sources of climate change.
For several years, HRAI has advocated that measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions resulting from the heating of buildings (space heating and domestic water heating) can be very effective in helping to meet carbon-reduction targets, but only if they are thoughtfully designed in consultation with the HVACR industry.
Picking up on previous consultations, HRAI has been actively re-engaging with key decision-makers in Ottawa, some well-known to HRAI and others new to their roles. The new government recently appointed Jonathan Wilkinson (North Vancouver) as Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Seamus O’Regan (St. John’s South—Mount Pearl) as Minister of Natural Resources, two key departments affecting the interests of HRAI’s members. HRAI will also be interested in working with new Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna (Ottawa Centre), on the roll-out of policies affecting energy use in small communities (among other things), as well as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Chrystia Freeland (University—Rosedale) on improving inter-provincial regulatory harmonization (on standards, codes, and EE regulations).
Working with Impact Public Affairs, HRAI will be reviewing the election promises made as well as the mandate letters issued to each of the key ministers, with a view to identifying ways that industry can make positive gains by addressing (or challenging where necessary) the government’s priorities.
As a first step, HRAI is re-introducing itself to top bureaucrats in key ministers’ offices. On November 27, HRAI VP of Government and Stakeholder Relations Martin Luymes met with senior bureaucrats in Minister Wilkinson’s office, including Assistant Deputy Minister Matt Jones, whose office is responsible for the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework. Luymes also met with Mollie Johnson, Assistant Deputy Minister – Low Carbon Energy Sector at NRCan. Among other things, Johnson oversees the work of the Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE), which includes implementation of the much-discussed “Market Transformation Roadmap” for the HVACR industry.
The key message in these meetings is that HRAI and its members are available for (and essential to) the development of effective policies and programs aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions across the country.
All indications are that the government is listening and the door is open.
In addition to these high-level discussions, Luymes will resume his role on Environment Canada’s Climate Action Investment Fund (CAIF) Advisory Committee and as co-chair of NRCan’s Market Transformation Roadmap Steering Committee, which will involve a number of industry volunteers.
HRAI will also be following up with the Federal Finance Committee to advocate for the adoption of recommendations made in HRAI’s pre-budget submission in August. As a result of last year’s budget, a little over a billion dollars was allocated to the Green Municipal Fund, overseen by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), which will lead to programs aimed at spurring energy efficiency retrofits in private homes and social housing. HRAI has been in active discussions with FCM about the design of programs and will be participating in a consultation in January on the role of Community Energy Action Plans (CEAP) in this work.
It is also with noting that HRAI is working in collaboration with Efficiency Canada, which has been a very effective voice for industries vested in the promotion of efficiency improvements. And, as in the past, HRAI will also be supporting advocacy efforts of allied associations like ASHRAE, CIPH and MCA-Canada, where and when they align with HRAI’s priorities.
HRAI’s own “Day on the Hill” is not scheduled till April, 2020, but all indications are that there will be no shortage of political engagement in the months till then.
For more information, contact Martin Luymes at 1-800-267-2231 ext. 235 or email mluymes@hrai.ca.