Who
We Are
Founded in 1907, The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada’s natural gas delivery industry and its members are distribution companies, transmission companies, equipment manufacturers and other service providers. Natural gas has a central place in Canada’s energy mix meeting 38 per cent of the country’s energy needs. In homes, apartments, buildings, businesses, hospitals and schools, customers representing two-thirds of Canadians rely on natural gas for heat and power.
CGA works to:
- Build the understanding of our product, natural gas;
- Advance efficiency and innovation in the energy and economy discourse;
- Drive for improved regulatory engagement;
- Ensure continuous improvements in safety and integrity management; and
- Pursue partnerships to better deliver energy services to Canadians.
We also develop educational information and organize and sponsor training schools, workshops, seminars and conferences to foster dialogue on energy policy and achieve a better understanding of natural gas.
Board of Directors
D. Jason Sharpe, P.Eng., MBA
President, Natural Gas of ATCO Gas
Chair
Roger Dall’Antonia
President and CEO of FortisBC
1st Vice-Chair
Michele Harradence
Senior Vice President and President, Gas Distribution and Storage of Enbridge Inc.
2nd Vice-Chair
Leigh Ann Shoji-Lee
President of Pacific Northern Gas and TriSummit Utilities, Executive Vice President, Utility Operations
Past Chair (Feb 2019 – Jun 2021)
Greg Grant
President, Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines, TC Energy
Executive Member
Timothy M. Egan
Canadian Gas Association
President, CGA Enterprise
Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation
President and CEO
Alex Chiang, MBA
Vice President, Customer Solutions and Experience, Manitoba Hydro
Board Member
Graeme Feltham, P.Eng., MBA
President, Apex Utilities Inc.
Board Member
Mark Guillet
President and CEO, SaskEnergy
Board Member
John Hawkins, P.Eng.
President, Heritage Gas Ltd.
Board Member
Éric Lachance
President and CEO, Énergir
Board Member
David K. Campbell
Global Government Affairs Lead, Public Policy Issues Management – Safety, UL
Board Member
Sam Schneider
President and CEO, CR Wall & Co. Inc.
Board Member
Jean-Benoit Trahan, B.Econ, MBA
Manager, Finance, Regulatory Affairs and Public Affairs, Gazifère Inc.
Board Member
Gilles Volpé
Vice President, New Brunswick Liberty Utilities
Board Member
Tom Kee
Executive Director, Federation of Alberta Gas Co-Ops Ltd.
Board Member
About the Industry
For more than a century, natural gas companies have been meeting the energy needs of Canadians across the country. Today, through more than 573,000 kilometers of transmission and distribution pipeline and natural gas storage facilities, affordable natural gas is delivered to over two-thirds of Canadians. Canadians use natural gas primarily to heat our homes, schools, hospitals and businesses; but we also use it to generate electricity, fuel vehicles, and power appliances.
Natural gas plays an important part in Canada’s energy mix meeting 38 per cent of Canada’s energy needs. Over the last decade Canada’s natural gas utilities added over one million new customers – including homes, businesses and industries – to the gas system. The growing demand for natural gas underscores the point that more Canadians want to have access to clean and affordable energy. Looking forward, the Canadian Energy Regulator forecasts natural gas will become the largest energy source in Canada by 2035.
The industry understands that the energy landscape is evolving and we know that natural gas will remain a vital and growing part of that landscape. From renewable gases to natural gas transportation to energy efficiency to a host of other opportunities, we are committed to a future that leverages our infrastructure and drives innovation. Our product and infrastructure have played a central role in helping Canadians achieve our quality of life, not only because it offers a reliable energy source to Canadians when they need it most, but also because it has delivered affordable energy. That has meant significant savings for consumers, and it has meant growth for our economy as investors have been attracted to our markets’ low energy input costs. We take pride in our past, and are committed to a future of continued growth for Canada, using our products and our infrastructure to help deliver our country’s social, environmental and economic well-being.
For more information about the industry, take a look at the Canadian Gas Association’s Corporate Profile.
Partners and Initiatives
NGIF Capital
In 2021, NGIF Capital Corporation (NGIF) was spun out of the Canadian Gas Association as a venture capital firm. NGIF strategically deploys grant and equity financing for startups to commercialize step change innovations that promote industry growth. NGIF operates three divisions with the shared purpose of maximizing the environmental and economic performance of the natural gas molecule:
- NGIF Industry Grants is currently a $14 million industry-led innovation fund that has approved over 54 non-dilutive grants to 40+ early-stage cleantech startups to advance their technologies through development and field demonstration projects for the gas industry.
- NGIF Emissions Testing Centre is a $35 million industry-led instrumented live site platform for 20+ cleantech startups to test, validate, and benchmark their emissions solutions in a collaborative simulation environment.
- NGIF Cleantech Ventures (the Fund) is a $50 million industry-led venture fund making equity investments in early-stage, high-growth startups that support environmental improvements along the natural gas value chain, promote the expanded production of emerging gaseous fuels including RNG and hydrogen, etc.
For general inquires contact info@ngif.ca.
Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance (CNGVA)
The Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance advocates on behalf of Canada’s natural gas transportation industry. Natural gas vehicle technologies provide proven, commercially available transportation solutions that reduce emissions while using lower cost fuel.
Canadian Energy Partnership for Environmental Innovation (CEPEI)
A collaboration of Canada’s major natural gas transmission and distribution companies and on occasion industry, government and non-government organizations. CEPEI develops technical tools, and information related to environmental management, with a focus on greenhouse gases and other air emissions, and energy efficiency to support the Canadian natural gas industry.
