In the Air - HRAI Industry News

On April 1, 2023, Natural Resources Canada published their 2023-2025 Forward Regulatory Plan.  

Between 2023 and 2025, NRCan will follow through on its intent to publish Amendments 18 and 19 to the Energy Efficiency Regulations.  

It will also utilize new regulatory process tools to maintain harmonization between Canada and other jurisdictions (usually the United States), i.e., technical standards documents, the ministerial regulations authority, and an increase in the use of ambulatory incorporation by reference of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.  

Enabled by Amendment 17 to the Energy Efficiency Regulations, the ministerial regulations authority will come into force on June 21, 2023, which will permit the minister “to make technical and administrative changes to regulations to maintain harmonization … with another jurisdiction.” 

Technical standards documents, on the other hand, will provide NRCan “the authority to incorporate by reference technical standards documents … to harmonize with another jurisdiction. This authority is designed to provide an alternative to direct incorporation of another jurisdiction’s regulation or standards developed by a third party.” 

Members can find the exact language for these regulatory harmonization tools in articles 20.1 and 20.2 of the Energy Efficiency Act.  

Amendments 18 and 19 – see the technical bulletins linked above – will update or add energy efficiency or testing standards for the following products: 

NRCan is also considering future regulations, “which may or may not lead to regulatory actions,” through market studies and/or pre-consultation(s) for the following products:  

The intended pre-publication date for the next amendment in Canada Gazette, Part I to the Energy Efficiency Regulations is Fall 2023.  

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Stephen Chartrand at 1-800-267-2231 ext. 276 or email schartrand@hrai.ca.