Public Affairs Updates

Fireplace Experts: Make Way for Santa Claus!

by hpbac admin | Dec 19, 2024 | Public Affairs Updates

HPBAC Reminds Canadians to Clean Their Chimneys

CANADA—As Christmas approaches, representatives from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada (HPBAC) recently met with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and the elves for their annual pre-Christmas roundtable.

This year’s discussion emphasized the importance of chimney maintenance and timely scheduling of cleaning services to ensure a safe and joyful holiday.

Santa once again reviewed new and existing wood stoves and fireplaces, and confirmed they are all Santa Claus-Certified. However, he stressed that proper maintenance and regular cleaning are key to ensuring he can safely deliver Christmas cheer without any obstructions.

Scheduling a professional chimney cleaning annually is a must, and before the holidays is a great time for it. A thorough cleaning promotes the safe and efficient operation of your appliances and ensures your chimney is free from soot and debris – making it easier for Santa to come down!

“Annual inspections of wood stoves and chimneys are essential,” noted HPBAC staff. “Components such as gaskets, door seals, and overall chimney structure should be inspected, and with Christmas just around the corner, now is the perfect time to check this task off your list.”

Gas fireplaces should not be overlooked, either. Ensure vents are properly checked according to your owner’s manual and clear of any debris.

“We had a very productive meeting this year,” said Laura Litchfield, President of HPBAC. “It was great to get the Santa Claus seal of approval on all our products. Santa and his team know first-hand how important chimney cleaning and maintenance is, so it is always good to get their advice.”

In addition to chimney maintenance, Santa also shared essential safety tips for the holiday season. Keep stockings and Christmas trees at least one meter (over three feet) away from fireplaces, supervise children around lit fireplaces and stoves, and always practice caution.

Visit the Product Safety page of the HPBAC website for more safety tips and guidance on maintenance. Ensure your home is ready for a festive holiday season – schedule your chimney cleaning today!

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.

Media Inquiries:

Mike McNeice
Director of Public Affairs
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada
mike@hpbacanada.org

Christmas Inquiries:

Santa Claus
North Pole, H0H 0H0
Canada

HPBA Canada Releases Industry White Paper

by Mike McNeice | May 8, 2024 | Press Releases, Public Affairs Updates

The Canadian Gas Fireplace Industry: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Path Forward

CANADA — The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada (HPBAC) today released an industry white paper, The Canadian Gas Fireplace Industry: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Path Forward. The publication highlights the industry’s importance to the Canadian economy, and outlines key challenges and opportunities.

Gas fireplaces have emerged as a cornerstone of energy efficiency and reliability, meeting stringent standards, and providing cost-effective heating solutions to millions of Canadian households. The industry not only fosters economic growth, with hundreds of businesses and tens of thousands of jobs, but also acts as a crucial bridge to renewable energy sources such as renewable natural gas (RNG) and future hydrogen blends.

Mayor Paul Horn of Mission, British Columbia highlights the essential role of gas fireplaces in ensuring reliable heating solutions.

“Like people in many BC communities, our rural residents often rely on natural gas fireplaces as a way of ensuring a reliable heat source in their homes. Frequent power outages from extreme weather and inadequate electrical infrastructure in outlying areas mean that gas fireplaces are still a very practical feature in our homes.” said Mayor Horn. “With Archgard Fireplaces being located right here in Mission, I see firsthand the positive impact of the industry on the local economy.”

Considering regulatory restrictions and jurisdictional complexities, HPBAC calls for collaborative efforts with government stakeholders to address these challenges. By fostering partnerships and driving innovation, the industry seeks to ensure regulatory consistency, support research and development initiatives, and contribute to policies that balance environmental considerations with consumer needs.

“Our industry is not without challenges right now,” said HPBAC Chair Dan Bonar. “But we are committed to innovation. This white paper is a critical tool for us to better advocate to, and partner with, government.”

HPBAC remains committed to leveraging its expertise and fostering deeper relationships with government partners. Through collaboration and innovation, the gas fireplace industry is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping Canada’s energy landscape for generations to come.

Click Here to Read the White Paper

Media Inquiries:
Mike McNeice
Director of Public Affairs
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada
mike@hpbacanada.org

MVRD | September 26, 2022

by webmaster | Sep 26, 2022 | Metro Vancouver

Metro Vancouver Wood Burning Restrictions Explained

Effective September 15th, 2022

As of September 15th 2022 if a homeowner in Metro Vancouver wants to burn wood in their home they must meet the requirements of MVRD Bylaw 1303. These include registering your wood burning unit, using best practices for wood burning and ensuring your appliance produces fewer than 4.5 grams/hour in particulate matter emissions. In this article we will walk you through everything you need to know about MVRD Bylaw 1303 including who this regulation affects, an overview of Wood Burning best practices, and how to register your unit with the appropriate authorities.

What is MVRD Bylaw 1303?

MVRD Bylaw 1303 was first passed in 2020 and takes a phased approach to regulating the discharge of air contaminants from residential indoor wood burning appliances. The following is a quick synopsis of the different phases.

May 2021: Seasonal Prohibition – Homeowners cannot burn between May 15 and September 15 each year, unless it is their sole source of heat, they are in an off-grid rural home, or during an emergency

September 2022: Declarations and Registration – If homeowners burn, they must declare their use of best burning practices and, in urban areas, register eligible appliances.

September 2025: Renewal and Restricted Use* – Every three years homeowners must renew any declarations and registrations in urban areas. They cannot use non-registered appliances within urban areas except if their house-hold qualifies as low income or during an emergency.

Who Does this Affect?

Metro Vancouver is a collection of 21 municipalities, one Electoral Area, and one Treaty First Nation that covers a large portion of the area known as the lower mainland. If you live in one of the following areas the MVRD Bylaw 1303 Wood Burning Restrictions outlined in this article apply to you:

• Anmore
• Belcarra
• Bowen Island
• Burnaby
• Coquitlam
• Delta
• Electoral Area A
• Langley

• Township of Langley
• Lions Bay
• Maple Ridge
• New Westminster
• North Vancouver
• District of North Vancouver
• Pitt Meadows
• Port Coquitlam

• Port Moody
• Richmond
• Surrey
• Tsawwassen First Nation
• Vancouver
• West Vancouver
• White Rock

Source: Metro Vancouver Members

Wood Burning Best Practices

Following wood burning best practices is essential to reducing the emissions of a wood burning fireplace appliance. Watch the video below to learn the best practices for burning wood from cutting / stacking / seasoning wood to startup / smoldering and even annual maintenance – if you follow best practices you will be able to keep your wood unit burning cleanly for many years.

How Do I Register My Eligible Wood Burning Unit?

To register your unit visit the Metro Vancouver Bylaw Website. From there you will need to Register including the following information:

The name(s) and contact information for the owner and operators of the appliance
The address of the appliance
The make/model of the appliance
The certifications/evidence that the registered appliance meets the current standard.

In addition, starting in 2025, once every three (3) years homeowners must confirm their registration information is accurate, current, and submit a new declaration stating they are complying with best burning practices.

Still Have Questions?

Please visit www.metrovancouver.org/faqs, download this press release, or contact Laura Litchfield at laura@hpbacanada.org for more information.

BCA | March 25, 2022

by Jeff Loder | Mar 22, 2022 | BC Advocacy

BC PST Increase

HPBAC is currently developing and executing various issue-specific advocacy strategies in British Columbia. These include the Comox Valley Campaign, electronic components advocacy, Vancouver building codes advocacy, and advocacy related to Clean BC: Roadmap to 2030. The latest development is the imposition of a provincial sales tax (PST) affecting fossil fuel combustion systems. Starting April 1, 2022, heat pumps will be exempt from PST while the PST on the purchase or lease of fossil fuel combustion systems will increase from 7% to 12%. Fireplaces are specifically included on the list of affected systems.

HPBAC recently held a meeting with BC members and the HPBAC Government Affairs Committee to discuss the PST issue. We’re taking a stand in BC and advocating against the tax increase with a letter-writing campaign. Click on the button below to sign and send a letter to Premier Horgan, and let him know that you oppose the PST increase.

Send the Letter to Premier Horgan

CPU | March 25, 2022

by Jeff Loder | Mar 22, 2022 | Canadian Politics Update

CP and TCRC Collective Bargaining

Collective bargaining between Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) over labour stability failed on March 20th. While CP has agreed to a number of conditions, the two groups are facing an impasse regarding CP’s Defined Benefit Pension Plan.

Following a 72-hour lockout notice from CP on March 16th, TCRC workers began picketing on March 20th. Global supply chain conditions and the current geopolitical context make this work stoppage especially problematic. Therefore, many are requesting that federal government intervene to ensure that CP operations resume as soon as possible. On March 15th, HPBAC signed a Letter to Ministers from Canada’s business community regarding possible work stoppage at CP initiated by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

View the Letter

CVRD | March 25, 2022

by Jeff Loder | Mar 21, 2022 | Comox Valley Regional District

The Comox Valley Campaign against existing and proposed bans on wood stoves in the region launched on February 15th. The campaign continues to grow as it approaches the first month mark, with an unwavering commitment from local members and an outpouring of support from residents. Digital performance reports indicate that our reach is growing on a regular basis (click here to view the latest campaign analytics). Most recently, local members and HPBAC staff met with the CVRD Board to discuss the issue.

To support the campaign, please do the following:

Visit the campaign website at SaveOurWoodStoves.ca.
If you live in the region, send a letter to your local politicians at SaveOurWoodStoves.ca and take a stand against the ban.
Engage with us on social media & share our posts about the campaign using #SaveOurWoodStoves and #WeCanAllDoBetter:
• Facebook – HPBACanada
• Twitter – @hpbacanada
• LinkedIn – hearth-patio-and-barbecue-association-of-canada
• Instagram – HPBAC
Contact Meghan O’Reilly at specialprojects@hpbacanada.org to learn more on how you can help.

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