Photo Courtesy: ©2016 Couvrette/Ottawa.
October News
Government Affairs Academy Canadian Style
Since the HPBA Government Affairs Academy (GAA) was introduced in 2006, HPBA Canada (HPBAC) has sent 13 participants to be trained. All of these Canadian participants found it to be an exhilarating and empowering experience, except – about half of the curriculum was on the U.S. system of government.
Realizing this was a way of creating an informed and engaged group of advocates across Canada, HPBAC was determined to host a Canadian version. In May 2016 it hosted the first HPBA Canada GAA in Ottawa with 19 participants representing all categories of members and all regions of the country.
After hours of prep and two days of in-class learning and group work, the attendees were ready to put what they learned into practice in truly Canadian fashion – at a cocktail reception for invited Members of Parliament and their staff. Participants were armed with Industry Profiles, a document developed for the GAA to outline the economic impact of the industry in Canada, to present to the MPs.
First to arrive was former Treasury Board president and Industry Minister, the Honourable Tony Clement, who announced “Fireplaces and Barbecues? You’re the fun people!” Nine MPs attended, including the Speaker of the House in his traditional costume, members from the Government and the Opposition.
It was an exciting evening that ran past the posted 6:30 pm closing time to well after 9:30 and resulted in many important political connections and an invitation to testify before a Parliamentary committee on Industry, Technology and Science.
HPBAC would like to thank its sponsors and contributors for their support: Valor Gas Fireplaces, Blaze King, ICC/RSF, EnerGuide for Gas Fireplaces Program, HPBA, HPBAC members.
| Canadian Residential Heating % of Households by Fuel Type, 2012* | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Natural Gas | Heating Oil | Other** | Wood | |
| Canada | 23.5% | 47.5% | 8.2% | 1.9% | 18.8% |
| Atlantic | 26.5% | 0.7% | 40.4% | 1.6% | 30.8% |
| Quebec | 49.3% | 5.9% | 10.1% | 0.5% | 34.2% |
| Ontario | 10.4% | 66.7% | 5.4% | 3.5% | 13.9% |
| Manitoba | 39.9% | 47.4% | 0.5% | 0.9% | 11.3% |
| Saskatchewan | 9.3% | 80.2% | 1.8% | 3.1% | 5.5% |
| Alberta | 5.9% | 87.5% | 0.0% | 1.4% | 5.2% |
| British Columbia | 30.1% | 53.7% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 14.6% |
| Territories | 7.0% | 10.9% | 54.2% | 11.9% | 15.9% |
| * Source, Natural Resources Canada. 2012 latest year published. ** “Other” includes coal and propane. |
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| Intrigue Table Top Fire Feature. | |
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Agio
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| Balcony-height swivel stools. | |
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| Marquee from the Reflections collection. | |
Outdura
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