HRAI Federal Pre-Budget Submission

Last week HRAI filed a submission to the Federal Finance Committee’s pre-budget consultation.  HRAI’s submission included four key requests: 

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

  1. Drawing on the expertise of the HVACR sector, the Government of Canada should introduce targeted financial incentive programs that will 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. 

  1. 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. 

  1. The Government of Canada should partner 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 federal 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, most recently the 30% tax credit for investments in cleantech (including HVACR technologies).  

For a copy of the submission, click HERE.   

For more information, contact Martin Luymes at 1-800-267-2231 ext 235 or email mluymes@hrai.ca 

Back to Newsletters