HPBA Canada Briefing Material On Ontario’s Latest Restrictions

by | Jan 15, 2021 | Member News

On January 14th, 2021, HPBA Canada held two virtual briefings to review and discuss relevant sections of the Ontario pandemic restrictions announced on January 12th, 2021.

Click on the image below to access the briefing deck used in this presentation.

(Please note that this material is for information purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice.)

To discuss any of these matters, feel free to contact:

Adam De Caire

Director, Public Affairs
HPBA Canada
(647) 998-4235
adam@hpbacanada.org

Santa Claus Briefed On Latest Fireplace Models

Santa Claus Briefed On Latest Fireplace Models

by | Dec 18, 2020 | Consumer News, Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Santa Claus Briefed On Latest Fireplace Models

Fireplace Experts Once Again Ensure Santa Is Able To Get In Safely

Huntsville, Ontario — The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada (HPBA Canada) is pleased to report that Santa Claus has once again received his annual briefing on the latest fireplace models, ensuring he will be able to successfully gain entry into homes around the world.

An annual tradition dating back decades, the briefing which took place last evening included Santa, senior officials from the North Pole, and engineers and design experts from across the fireplace industry who design the fireplaces found in homes across Canada and around the world. The briefing was held via Zoom.

“This is a privilege we take very seriously,” said Laura Litchfield, President of HPBA Canada. “Given that the closest inhabited area to the North Pole is in Nunavut, Canada, we feel a responsibility to make sure that Santa is as much a fireplace expert as the people who make them.”

“The fireplaces that are made today are quite advanced, with new technologies to increase heating efficiency and burn cleaner than ever before,” said Adam De Caire, Director of Public Affairs with HPBA Canada. “We want to make sure this new technology doesn’t get in Santa’s way on Christmas eve. He has a lot of ground to cover.”

The briefing also included safety tips for Santa, such as never going near a lit fireplace, and keeping stockings, gifts, and the Christmas tree a safe distance away. As always, Santa asked that these safety tips be passed on to people everywhere.

The fireplace briefing from HPBAC was followed by a briefing from The Locksmith Association, to address homes currently without a fireplace.

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada is the national non-profit industry association supporting manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and support service providers in the hearth, barbecue, and outdoor lifestyle industries.

Related Links: https://hpbacanada.org/consumer-resources/product-safety/

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Media Inquiries:
Adam De Caire
Director of Public Affairs
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada
adam@hpbacanada.org

Christmas Inquiries:
Santa Claus
North Pole
H0H 0H0
Canada

Enjoy Your Gas Fireplace Safely (And Often)!

Enjoy Your Gas Fireplace Safely (And Often)!

by | Dec 16, 2020 | Consumer News

A gas fireplace serves as one of the safest and most reliable appliances in the home, providing both heat and ambiance at a moment’s notice. Gas fireplaces are clean burning, require little maintenance, and can be an important source of heat in an emergency situation such as a power outage.

Because efficiency and safety are important issues, HPBAC recommends that a gas fireplace be professionally serviced at least once a year to ensure top performance and aesthetic appearance. A qualified professional inspects the burner, fan, venting, pilot light and thermostat, and even cleans the glass. Further, a carbon monoxide detector should be present in the home. 

Here is a full list of recommendations to ensure you are getting the safest and most enjoyable experience out of your gas fireplace:

Safe setup

  • Keep a fire extinguisher on hand and place smoke detectors throughout the house. Test the smoke detectors and batteries regularly. See that the extinguisher is in good working order and that all family members know how to operate it.
  • Obtain a building permit prior to installing or replacing your hearth appliance, as required by the laws in your area.
  • Advise your insurance company about the installation or replacement of your hearth appliance.
  • Have your hearth appliance installed out of the way of foot traffic and away from furniture and draperies.
  • To fully understand the necessary steps involved in proper operation, read the manufacturer’s instruction manual for your specific hearth product.
  • If your hearth appliance is being installed in a home during construction or renovations, do not operate it until the area is thoroughly cleaned; drywall dust and other contaminants may harm the fan motors and burners.

Using your hearth appliance

  • Do not store combustible materials, gasoline or other flammable liquids near your hearth appliance.
  • Never leave a child alone in a room with a hearth appliance. If your child is not in a playpen, an adjustable gate system that fits most hearth appliance areas can be installed which allows adult access to the hearth appliance but keeps kids outside in the safety zone. Alternatively the same kind of safety gate system can be used to cordon off the entire room to prevent your child wandering into the room alone.

Regular maintenance

  • Clean the glass regularly (but never when it is hot). It is recommended to use a glass cleaning product specifically intended for fireplace glass, available through most hearth retailers or hardware stores. Never use abrasive products or ammonia-based cleaners which may scratch the glass surface.
  • Maintain your hearth appliance regularly in accordance with the manufacturers specifications, and industry best practices.

To discuss any of these matters, feel free to contact:

Adam De Caire

Director, Public Affairs
HPBA Canada
(647) 998-4235
adam@hpbacanada.org

A Look at Canada’s Fall Economic Statement

A Look at Canada’s Fall Economic Statement

by | Dec 2, 2020 | Member News

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, tabled the 2020 Fall Economic Statement (FES) on November 30, 2020. The statement, entitled Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19: Fall Economic Statement 2020, represents the government’s first budget-like plan since the last full budget in March 2019. As expected, FES 2020 highlights the heavy economic impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian economy, with a forecasted federal deficit of over $380 billion for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

The FES was a mix of specific commitments as well as priorities of the government which will be further articulated through future anouncements or the spring budget. As anticipated, there were substantial spending commitments aimed at getting Canada through the pandemic, and subsequently pursuing aggressive economic recovery through stimulus spending.

Highlights of the Fall Economic Statement include:
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  • A short-term stimulus package is valued at $70 billion to $100 billion over roughly three years. The government says the stimulus spending — intended to build a greener, more inclusive, more innovative and competitive economy — will launch after a vaccine is distributed and life begins to return to normal.
  • Increasing the maximum rate of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to 75 per cent for the period beginning December 20, 2020 and extending this rate until March 13, 2021, and extending the current rates of the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support until March 13, 2021. Both programs will be there for businesses until June 2021.
  • A new Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program to support Canada’s hardest-hit industries, like tourism, hotels, arts and culture, and the air sector.
  • Laying the groundwork for a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care System.
  • A $1-billion fund to help provinces and territories improve COVID-19 infection control in long-term care facilities.
  • a temporary support in 2021 of up to $1,200 for each child under six for low and middle-income families eligible for the Canada child benefit (CCB).

The government projects the deficit will reach $381.6 billion by the end of March 2021 and could climb even higher, depending on factors such as the severity of shutdowns and the rate of COVID-19 infections.

A reminder that information on all Government of Canada COVID-19 related resources is available here.

For more coverage of the Fall Economic Statement, take a look at the following:

Five takeaways from the 2020 fall economic statement – Macleans

Fall Economic Statement 2020: Let the Questions Begin – Policy Magazine

Liberals to spend $100B to jolt post-pandemic economy after posting record $381B deficit – CBC

Fall Economic Statement 2020 Briefing – Osler

To discuss any of these matters, feel free to contact:

Adam De Caire

Director, Public Affairs
HPBA Canada
(647) 998-4235
adam@hpbacanada.org

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Breakdown of Ontario Lockdown Restrictions – November 24th, 2020

Breakdown of Ontario Lockdown Restrictions – November 24th, 2020

by | Nov 24, 2020 | HPBAC Blog

Ontario is currently operating on a COVID-19 Response Framework, which dictates what restrictions and protocols must be in place, depending on the level of public health measures imposed on a given region.
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HPBA Canada contacted the Government of Ontario to determine how restrictions in the “Lockdown” level relate to specialty retailers such as those in the hearth and barbecue product lines. (As of today, Toronto and Peel Region are in the Lockdown level.

Retail

Retail permitted to be open for curbside pick-up or delivery only (in-person retail shopping not permitted)

Exceptions where in-person shopping is permitted: Schedule 2 of O. Reg. 654/20: RULES FOR AREAS IN STAGE 1, which dictates which businesses may remain open, includes, but is not limited to, the following which most closely relate to our industry:

The following businesses that engage in retail sales to the public:
1. Supermarkets and grocery stores.
2. Convenience stores.
3. Discount and big box retailers selling groceries.
4. Hardware stores.
5. Safety supply stores.
6. Pharmacies.
7. Stores, other than stores described in section 3, that sell liquor, including beer, wine and spirits.

Unfortunately, officials at the province will not provide a definitive “yes or no” answer about a specific business in relation to in-person shopping, beyond pointing to the language in this regulation.

Installation / Service

Businesses that may remain open:

43. Construction activities or projects and related services that support construction activities or projects, including demolition services.
46. Electricity generation, transmission, distribution and storage and natural gas distribution, transmission and storage.

Officials with the province indicated that they believe installations would be permitted by line 43 of Schedule 2.

Ultimately, it must be the choice of an individual business to determine if they feel their business appropriately qualifies as one of the businesses permitted to remain open according to the language in the regulation.

The only definitive arbitration of this decision would take place if a provincial inspector or municipal bylaw officer were to visit the businesses, and inquire on what grounds the business is continuing operation. At this point, the decision would be with the inspector as to if the operation is appropriate, or if they wish to impose any of the penalties laid out in the Reopening Ontario Act, which are as follows:

Offences

10 (1) Every person who fails to comply with subsection 9.1 (2) or (3) or with a continued section 7.0.2 order or who interferes with or obstructs any person in the exercise of a power or the performance of a duty conferred by such an order is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction,
(a) in the case of an individual, subject to clause (b), to a fine of not more than $100,000 and for a term of imprisonment of not more than one year;
(b) in the case of an individual who is a director or officer of a corporation, to a fine of not more than $500,000 and for a term of imprisonment of not more than one year; and
(c) in the case of a corporation, to a fine of not more than $10,000,000. 2020, c. 17, s. 10 (1); 2020, c. 23, Sched. 6, s. 3.

To discuss any of these matters, feel free to contact:

Adam De Caire

Director, Public Affairs
HPBA Canada
(647) 998-4235
adam@hpbacanada.org
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