HRAI Task Team Focuses on Building HVACR Manufacturing Capacity in Canada

A new task team struck by the HRAI Manufacturers Division Board will develop a strategy for engaging with federal, provincial and local governments on the issue of attracting HVACR manufacturing production into Canada as well as supporting existing manufacturers in the country. 

Over the past year, the federal government, and especially Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne, has shown an increasingly active interest in “on-shoring” the manufacturing of products that will be central to the Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy.  Investments to support the domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles is only the most recent and obvious example.  The federal government appears to be prepared to provide incentives to create more capacity to produce the products needed going forward right here a home. 

Governments in British Columbia and Ontario have also expressed an interest in assisting global manufacturers in the HVACR sector to bring more production into Canada.  The City of Vancouver Economic Commission, for example, last year hired Dunsky Energy + Climate consultants to determine what it would take to bring more manufacturing of heat pumps into the BC lower mainland.  More recently, HRAI discussions with Ontario’s Minister of Energy and several MPPs have included conversations about what might be done to attract manufacturers to invest in production facilities in Ontario. 

Within the HVACR sector itself, supply chain challenges arising in part from the great distances between production locations and markets have started to create problems for the timely supply and distribution of products needed in Canada.  Some key trends (climate policies, COVID, war in Europe) show signs of reversing the decades-long globalization trend in manufacturing. 

These elements together suggest there might be an opportunity for HRAI play a role in furthering these goals to the benefit of its membership.  The manufacturers’ task team, headed up by Manufacturers Chair Dermot McMorrow (Mitsubishi), will work with HRAI staff to: 

  • Review currently available federal and provincial programs that incentivize manufacturing production in Canada. 

  • Assess whether these programs are adequate to meet the needs of the HVACR sector or whether new approaches should be advocated. 

  • Determine whether a concerted effort to strengthen HVACR manufacturing in Canada should be a priority for HRAI. 

  • If this is to be a priority focus, determine an appropriate role for HRAI.  Options for engagement with government on this issue could  include: 

  • An industry-wide programmatic approach; 

  • Acting as a “concierge” to open pathways for discussions on a company-by company basis; 

  • Convening an industry “roundtable” with government to explore options. 

The Task Team met last week for the first time and after some engagement with governments and stakeholders, will bring recommendations to the board early in the new year. 

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

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