Calgary, AB, September 9, 2019 – Federal Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi and Alberta’s Assistant Minister of Natural Gas Dale Nally addressing the Alberta members of the Canadian Propane Association last Friday in Red Deer shows a recognition that propane has an important role to play in Canada’s policy development.
“Having these ministers attend our Alberta Seminar speaks to the importance of the role of propane in contributing to Canada’s economy, local communities and to the environment,” said CPA President & CEO Nathalie St-Pierre. “It indicates to our industry that both federal and provincial governments are recognizing the important role propane has in Canada’s clean energy mix and how it is becoming an important piece of the puzzle to tackling climate change.”
A truly holistic approach to reducing Canada’s emissions must include low-emission energy options that are available to consumers today. Propane is an immediate solution for Canada – it can support government policies to reduce GHG emissions, reduce costs, contribute to job creation and help grow the economy.
“Propane has potential. It can be a game changer – a game changer as a cleaner burning fuel with low infrastructure costs and competitive timelines for paying back conversion costs and as a safe, reliable and portable source of energy,” said Minister of Natural Resources Amarjeet Sohi.
Minister Sohi said his government views the propane industry as key to a diverse energy sector, highlighting AltaGas’s Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal, which will ship propane to Asian markets, providing a much needed clean energy source and the two petrochemical plants advancing in Alberta that will turn propane into valuable plastic products, which he says will unlock nine billion dollars worth of investment.
Presenting on the Alberta government’s strategy to restore and revitalize the province’s energy industry, Associate Minister of Natural Gas Dale Nally told CPA members that this included scrapping the carbon tax, which he says will bring investor confidence back.
One of CPA’s hardest hit members by the downturn in the Alberta oil sector are the MACE (Manufacturers Appliances, Cylinders and Equipment) companies, who rely on producers to drill wells. Nally said the goal is to get producers “back to a place where they can first survive. And then once we’ve got them there, to a place where they can thrive.” He said that 100 billion dollars worth of investment has left Alberta in the last four years but his government plans to bring that investment back by making “Alberta one of the lowest taxed jurisdictions in Canada – and one of the lowest in North America.”
Regarding emissions reductions, Minister Nally noted that natural gas and propane are part of the future. Among the best ways of getting to the Paris Accord targets is to expand propane production and convert more of the heavier oils to lower carbon fuels like propane.
“While both ministers recognize propane as a low-emission fuel and recognize that it must be part of our clean energy future, we need to see actionable steps that would see an expanded use of propane and result in significant impact on reducing Canada’s emissions,” said St-Pierre.
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About the Canadian Propane Association
With over 400 members, the Canadian Propane Association (CPA) is the national association for a growing, multi-billion-dollar industry that impacts the livelihood of tens of thousands of Canadians. Our mission is to promote a safe and thriving propane industry that plays a vital role in Canada’s energy sector. To achieve this, we champion propane and the propane industry in Canada and facilitate best practices, safety and a favourable business environment through advocacy, training and emergency response.
For further information, contact: Tammy Hirsch, Sr. Director, Communications and Marketing at tammyhirsch@propane.ca or 587-349-5876.
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