How Should the Canadian Government Invest Tax Dollars to Benefit the HVACR Industry? Have your Say!

The Federal House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance is inviting Canadians to participate in its annual pre-budget consultations process. As usual, the Committee intends to table a report on these consultations in the House of Commons prior its adjournment in December 2023.

 

The Finance Committee’s pre-budget consultation process provides industry and other stakeholders with an opportunity to convey their priorities for the government’s next budget.  It has been said that the best way to let a government know your priorities is by telling it how to spend your money.  HRAI has taken advantage of the process for the past five years, with some tangible results, including several recommendations finding their way into the federal budget.

 

HRAI will be filing a submission prior to the deadline of August 4th, and members are invited to share their priorities and recommendations for federal spending.  Please submit your comments to Martin Luymes at mluymes@hrai.ca by July 27, 2023.  All reasonable suggestions will be considered for inclusion, but it is important to remember that recommendations should align with both the industry’s priorities and, ideally, with the known public policy priorities of the government.

 

In the last round of federal budget consultations, earlier this year, HRAI’s submission included four key requests: 

  • The Government of Canada should introduce a program of financial incentives to encourage investments in upgrading heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems in industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) buildings to reduce GHG emissions and energy use while improving indoor air quality, occupant comfort and health.
  • The Government of Canada should work with the HVACR industry and relevant building science and health experts to establish a professional workforce capable of identifying and addressing indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in homes and buildings, with a view to minimizing health risks and creating healthy indoor environments.  Relying on guidance from existing authorities (e.g., ASHRAE) this initiative would include professional standards, identification of testing equipping and setting standards for training and certification of IAQ professionals. 
  • The Government of Canada should work with the HVACR industry to develop and implement a communications program that seeks to educate Canadians about the health benefits of investing in improved indoor air quality (IAQ), relying on proven technologies and practices.   

  • The Government of Canada should invest $25 million over five years in a workforce development and adjustment plan specifically to assist the HVACR industry in retraining and re-deploying personnel to meet the mounting challenges of the low carbon economy in a timely fashion.

 

For more information on the pre-budget consultation process see: https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/FINA/news-release/12536255. 

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