In 2010, the federal government in Canada mandated that all “residential comfort cooling units increase their minimum energy efficiencies to a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 14.5 or higher from the previous standard of 13 SEER.”
In addition, the federal government followed a phaseout schedule for R-22 (an ozone depleting substance). HCFCs are a controlled substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 and its ozone-depleting substances regulations of 1998 because of their ozone-depleting potential. Importation and manufacturing of new or virgin HCFCs is regulated by a federal allowance system.