Earlier this year, the Ontario government enacted, as part of Bill 100, the Federal Carbon Tax Transparency Act – a regulation that requires gasoline retailers in Ontario to display, on each gas pump, a sticker that illustrates the provincial government’s position on the federal carbon tax.

The safety of our guests is our primary concern and we believe that communications at our fuel pumps should focus on that and the services we provide. This sticker is not consistent with that focus.

However, we respect that this has been passed into legislation so we will comply with the requirement to place them on our gas pumps in Ontario. More information about the Ontario government’s position on the carbon tax can be found at www.ontario.ca/carbontax.

More folks on the road, more kids on the sidewalk, pumpkin-flavoured drinks on the menu – must be back to school time! As the days get shorter and the traffic gets busier, here’s a refresher on sharing the road and staying safe this time of year.

Put down your phone. This applies to both drivers AND pedestrians. That’s right, I’m looking at you, kid who walked right into my dog this morning because he was too distracted by his phone to watch where he was going. Distracted driving due to phone use has become a major problem; and distracted walking has its own set of perils. Put your phone away when you’re driving or walking.

Turn down the tunes. Here’s another tip for both drivers and pedestrians; if you’re listening to music, in your car or on your headphones, keep it at a reasonable level so you can still hear ambient sounds.

Allow extra driving time for your commute. Traffic is generally more congested when school is back in session - even if you don't live near a school, your drive times may be affected. Try to leave a half hour earlier than you usually would, at least for the first few weeks of the fall - then you'll be able to take your time and keep an eye out for darting children without worrying that you'll be late for work.

Respect the speed limits. Obviously, speed limits are lower in school zones, but be vigilant when driving in residential areas as well. While the weather is still good, more kids will be walking, skateboarding or riding their bikes to school. Children on the sidewalk can be difficult to see behind cars parked on the street, so be sure to scan the ground for little feet getting ready to cross the road.

Obey the school bus rules. When the upper red lights are flashing, drivers travelling in either direction must stop until all of the children have exited the bus. Also, if you're behind a school bus, be sure and leave lots of room - they often make sudden stops.

Take it easy on new drivers. In high school areas, newly licensed drivers who've been practising all summer may be experiencing back to school traffic for the first time. Be patient and set a good example for those more inexperienced drivers - after all, you were just like them once.

Back to school time is a good time to educate your kids on pedestrian safety. Check out this article from Parachute Canada for more tips on how best to teach your kids to stay safe on the streets.

Do you notice a change in traffic patterns when school is back in session? What kind of adjustments do you make to your commute? Let us know in the comments. Hope you all have a safe and happy back-to-school season!

- Rose R.

2003. A particularly frosty day in Toronto. My car: running on fumes. My gloves: forgotten (beside my lunch) on the kitchen table. I had no choice. I had to pull in to my local Petro-Canada and fill up or I wouldn’t make it to work. As I filled my tank, I tried to avoid frostbite by alternating pumping hands and keeping the free one in my pocket. Oh, how I missed the locking clip on the gas nozzle.

Fast forward 16 years. The clips are back! In 2002 Canadian Fuels member companies removed the clips for safety reasons. But since the introduction of Gasoline Flow Rate Regulations (currently set at 38 litres/minute) and Onboard Fuelling Vapour Recovery technology in vehicles, those safety risks have been greatly reduced.

So, for guest convenience (and keeping hands warm!), Petro-Canada is re-introducing the locking clicks on gasoline nozzles across the country, except in Quebec where they are not legal. Stasy Presutto, Manager of Environment, Health & Safety for Petro-Canada, who is leading the implementation of the locking clips, is keen on the implementation:

“The locking clips deliver an overall positive guest experience and greatly reduce the probability of gasoline spills. In the absence of locking clips, we have seen guests insert objects (e.g. gas cap, coffee cup) into the nozzle thereby causing gasoline spills.”

Now, while the clips are very convenient, you can’t just “set it and forget it”. Site Staff will still be monitoring the dispensing of fuel and you can do your part. Stay within 7.5 metres (25 feet) of your vehicle while using the locking clip. This means you can wash your windshield or even get back in your car to stay warm. But please don’t enter the store until you have finished pumping your gas. Otherwise the attendant will, for safety reasons, halt the pump until you return.

If you have any questions about the safe use of gas nozzle locking clips (or any other safety concerns), don’t hesitate to ask the station attendant.

- Rose R.

A few weeks ago Suncor, proud owner of Petro-Canada, released its 2019 Report on Sustainability. This report details Suncor’s environmental, social, and economic performance, as well as, the company’s perspective on the challenges and opportunities of climate change, and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Petro-Canada plays a key role in three areas:

1. Renewable Technologies
2. Partnering with Indigenous Businesses
3. Community Investment

Renewable Technologies
Petro-Canada is contributing towards a low-carbon future through the creation of Canada’s Electric Highway™, our EV fast charge network. More than 50 EV stations will be located along the Trans-Canada highway at strategically located Petro-Canada stations from Nova Scotia to British Columbia; these sites will offer DC fast chargers which support a broad selection of vehicles and can provide up to a 200 kilowatt charge – enough to provide an 80% charge to most EVs in less than 30 minutes.

Partnering with Indigenous Businesses
Petro-Canada began partnering with First Nation business owners in 1997. In 2018, four new retail sites opened, bringing the number of Petro-Canada branded retail sites owned and operated by First Nations across Canada to more than 30. One new wholesale site was also opened, for a total of nine First Nation owned or leased wholesale sites. If you missed it, you can check out an interview we did with Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir, the Tk’emlups chief, where one of our most successful First Nations owned and operated sites is located.

Community Investment
Petro-Canada is a long-time supporter of the Olympic and Paralympic movement. Through our Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence (FACE™) Program, we support promising athletes and their coaches from across Canada on their journeys to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since 1988, we have given $11 million in financial support to 3,000+ Canadian athletes and coaches. We also support Canadian athletes by helping their families get to see them compete. We continue to support a Canadian ticketing program that will help ensure family members have the opportunity to see their athletes compete in person at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

You can read the full 2019 Report on Sustainability to learn about these initiatives as well as Suncor’s progress on additional environmental and social goals.

- Rose R.