HRAI Advocates for Progressive Change at BC Legislature Meetings
On May 1st, a motivated contingent of HRAI volunteers, alongside friends from TECA, ventured to the heart of British Columbia’s political arena—the BC Legislature—to engage in pivotal discussions with key policymakers across the political spectrum. The small yet influential delegation engaged with key leaders from the governing NDP, BC United, Conservative, and Green parties, emphasizing the critical role of the HVACR industry in the province's economy and its potential to foster environmental sustainability.
The day was marked by a series of high-profile meetings, notably a collaborative lunch with the NDP Caucus, which included participation by the Hon. Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation; the Hon. Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests, the Hon. Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food, the Hon. Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, the Hon. Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, the Hon. Jagrup Brar, Minister of State for Trade, the Hon. Dan Coulter, Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit and the Hon. Mitzi Dean, Minister of State for Child Care, as well as prominent MLAs Garry Begg (Surrey-Guildford), Ronna-Rae Leonard (Courtenay-Comox), Jinny Sims (Surrey-Panorama), Aman Singh (Richmond-Queensborough) and Mike Starchuk (Surrey-Cloverdale).
A highlight was the one-on-one meeting with the Hon. Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, where the urgent needs for trades training were discussed, particularly the surging demand for residential heat pumps—a cornerstone for sustainable development in BC.
In addition to raising awareness about the importance of the HVACR industry to the BC economy and society, the delegation brought important messaging concerning
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the need for the BC government to invest in workforce development, especially to address alarming shortages of qualified personnel in the residential sector; and
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the need to embrace the transition to climate-friendly refrigerants in the HVACR industry by modernizing Provincial building codes.
Representing HRAI were industry volunteers Alex Gibbs of Refrigerative Supply, Leon Hawkins from Ainsworth and Alex Hamilton of Hamilton Industries. Their insights, paired with the strategic guidance of John Fekete and Martin Luymes from HRAI and the tactical support from Sajjid Lakhani and Zacharie Greenfield of Impact Public Affairs, underscored a well-orchestrated effort.
This engagement was significantly bolstered by Gary Milligan and Akshaya Shetty from TECA, whose contributions were pivotal in the day's success. The collective efforts of these dedicated individuals not only highlighted the importance of the HVACR industry but also advanced discussions on crucial policies that could shape its future.
HRAI extends its deepest gratitude to all volunteers and participants for an impactful day.
For more insights or to get involved, contact Martin Luymes at HRAI via phone at 1-800-267-2231 ext. 235 or email mluymes@hrai.ca.
HRAI’s delegation at the BC Legislature. Rear (L-R) Alex Gibbs, Alex Hamilton, Gary
Milligan, Leon Hawkins. Front (L-R) Martin Luymes, Akshaya Shetty, John Fekete.
Delegates meeting with MLA and Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Aman Singh
(Richmond-Queensborough).
Meeting with the NDP Caucus.
Meeting with the BC United caucus.
Meeting with Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Lisa Beare.
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