HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - A delegation of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) representatives and other stakeholders met in late January with representatives of the Nova Scotia Ministry of Environment and Labour concerning provincial adoption of the national strategy to phase out the use of CFCs and manage the surplus stocks. Stewart Creaser, Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors of Canada (HRAC) regional chair; Jim Thomas, HRAI Manufacturers Division director, Warren Heeley, HRAI president; and John Sutherland and Dallas McDonald, HRAI Atlantic region staff, attended on behalf of HRAI and were joined by Jeannie Cruickshank of the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors. The Ministry representatives included Kim MacNeil, executive director of the Environmental and Natural Areas Management Division, Melanie Haggart, and Solveig Madsen.

HRAI provided the Ministry representatives with background on the national strategy that was adopted by the Canadian Council Ministers of the Environment in May 2001. The strategy includes CFC refill bans for chillers and commercial refrigeration equipment as well as seller take back and stewardship requirements for recovered surplus refrigerant. Heeley pointed out that seven of the 10 provinces have adopted these regulations and they are critical to supporting HRAI’s Refrigerant Management Canada (RMC) program.

Executive Director MacNeil indicated that the proposed regulations would have to go before the Environmental Policy Group, within the Ministry, prior to stakeholder consultation. He could not confirm when this would occur and the HRAI representatives agreed to forward a letter to the Deputy Minister and provide a fact sheet on the regulations to the Ministry from the industry’s perspective.

For more information, contact Warren Heeley at 800-267-2231 or e-mail warren.heeley@hrai.ca.

Publication date: 03/19/2007