In the Air - HRAI Industry News

Last week HRAI made a submission to Finance Canada’s Pre-Budget Consultation.  Reflecting the top priorities of the industry while also speaking to the established priorities of the federal government, the submission included four key requests, as follows: 

1. 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. 

2. 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. 

3. The Government of Canada should 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.  

4. 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. 

HRAI has some success in recent years through this budgetary consultation process, with several recommendations finding their way into the federal budget.  

For a copy of the full submission, click HERE. 

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