Canadian Gas Association Welcomes Federal Budget Support for Innovation, Natural Gas Vehicles, Ferries, Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency and more…

OTTAWA, March 23, 2016 /CNW/ - The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is very pleased that the federal budget "Growing the Middle Class" includes a number of initiatives that recognize the role that natural gas and the natural gas delivery industry can play in fostering economic growth, driving Canada's environmental performance, and helping the middle class.

CGA was particularly pleased to see the following items in the budget:

• Significant funding to support major infrastructure projects across the country.
• Funding to support clean technology research, development and demonstration activities to drive innovation.
• $62.5 million over two years to support the deployment of refueling infrastructure for alternative transportation vehicles, including natural gas refueling stations.
• $56.9 million over two years to support the transition to a cleaner transportation sector, including through the development of regulations and standards for clean technology.
• Funding to support energy projects in off-grid Indigenous and northern communities.
• Waiving of the import tariff on ferries – the estimated $118 million in savings could help support the renewal of ferry fleets.
• $573.9 million over two years to support energy efficiency improvements in social housing units.
• $40 million over five years to revise national building codes for residential, institutional, commercial and industrial facilities by 2020.
• Funding to advance cyber security initiatives.

"CGA suggested a number of these measures in our pre-budget submission as a way to deliver on the Federal Government's objectives to drive economic growth, grow the middle class, and achieve environmental objectives.  Natural gas utilities look forward to working with the Government of Canada on these important initiatives," said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO of the Canadian Gas Association.

Natural gas is an affordable, clean, safe and reliable energy choice for buildings and communities, large industry, and transportation. Natural gas has a central place in Canada's energy mix meeting over 30 per cent of the country's energy needs. Today over 6.6 million customers representing well over half the Canadian population rely on natural gas for heat and power in homes, apartments, buildings, businesses, hospitals and schools.

CGA is the voice of Canada's natural gas distribution industry and its members are distribution companies, transmission companies, equipment manufacturers and other service providers. The website of the Canadian Gas Association, www.cga.ca, provides information, facts, and useful tools on this affordable energy choice.

For more information please visit www.cga.ca or contact:

SOURCE Canadian Gas Association

Paula Dunlop, Director, Public Affairs and Strategy, Canadian Gas Association, 613-748-0057 ext. 341 or 613-614-3280, [email protected]