On the Gaspé coast, gas heat runs on propane, not a pipeline.

No. Énergir's mains network is concentrated in the greater Montréal area and a few other southern Quebec corridors, and it doesn't reach Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. There's no natural gas main to connect a fireplace to anywhere in New-Richmond. Anyone here asking for a gas fireplace is really asking about a propane system, which is entirely workable with a tank on the property and the right dealer handling the line work.

Typical installs run $6,000 to $15,000 CAD. A direct-vent unit going into an existing masonry opening lands toward the lower end, while a new built-in with fresh venting and a new propane tank set pushes toward the top. Because there's no mains gas here, budget for the tank and line run as part of the project rather than assuming it's a simple tie-in the way it might be in a city with Énergir service.

Yes, through the municipal building department, and the installation itself needs to follow the CSA B365 code. Most dealers who work regularly in Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine handle the permit application and final sign-off as part of the quote, which matters here since propane work also needs a licensed gas fitter rather than a general contractor.

Two things push gas to the margins here. First, there's no Énergir main, so gas heat means adding a propane tank rather than tying into existing service. Second, Hydro-Québec's residential rate of about $0.078 per kWh is genuinely cheap, which keeps electric baseboard and electric fireplaces attractive, while sugar maple, yellow birch, beech, and red oak growing throughout the region keep wood heat both standard and affordable. Propane fireplaces still get installed, but usually as a deliberate ambiance or secondary-heat choice rather than the default.

With winter lows averaging -17.5°C and wind off Chaleur Bay adding real chill to older, less-insulated homes, a mid-to-large direct-vent unit is usually the better call for a main living space rather than a small decorative model. A local dealer will size it against your actual square footage, insulation, and ceiling height, not just the floor plan, since coastal exposure here changes the math compared to a similar-sized home inland.

Direct-vent units, which pull combustion air from outside and exhaust it back out through sealed venting, are the standard and safer choice, and they're what most dealers install in this region. Vent-free propane units are legal in Quebec but come with strict room-sizing limits and aren't well suited to a long, cold heating season where the unit runs for hours at a stretch. For a New-Richmond main living area, direct-vent is the practical default.

An annual check before the cold sets in—ideally September, ahead of the first hard frost—is the standard recommendation. A technician checks the burner, pilot assembly, propane connections, and tank regulator, and cleans the glass. Given how long New-Richmond's heating season runs and how much salt air off Chaleur Bay can affect exterior venting components, skipping this is more likely to show up as a problem here than in a drier inland town. Expect roughly $150 to $250 CAD for a standard visit.

Wood is the practical default here, with sugar maple, yellow birch, beech, and red oak available and MRNF cutting permits running about $1.85 per cubic metre plus taxes up to 22.5 cubic metres. Electric heat through Hydro-Québec is cheap to run and cheap to install, usually $500 to $1,600 CAD. Pellet stoves using regional brands like Granules LG, Energex, or Trebio at $400 to $575 a ton offer a cleaner-burning, lower-maintenance middle ground. Propane gas, without a mains connection to lean on, tends to be the choice for homeowners who specifically want instant on-demand flame and are willing to manage tank deliveries in a fairly remote region—it's a real option, just not the fuel most of the town defaults to.

Insurers in Quebec most often ask about WETT inspections for wood-burning appliances, but a propane fireplace isn't off their radar either—expect them to want proof it was installed to CSA B365 code with a permit signed off by the municipal building department. Keeping that paperwork on file protects you at claim time and also makes for a smoother resale, since buyers and their insurers will ask the same questions a few years down the line.

Most modern gas fireplaces can—turn it on and off from the couch with a remote, or set a room temperature and let the fireplace hold the comfort zone for you. If low maintenance matters to your family, this is the feature set that makes gas the convenience pick over wood and pellet.

Because a fireplace is an iceberg—there's more behind the wall than in front of it. A low quote often covers only the unit; the full scope includes vent pipe, gas line or electrical, framing, and the tile or stone that has to come off and go back on. Make every bidder price the whole job. If a dealer can't speak to the full scope with confidence, that's your signal to keep looking.

Ask three questions: Is it ugly? Is it drafty? Does it actually work? Most old fireplaces fail at least two. Beyond looks, an old unit leaks air around the damper year-round and—if it's gas with a standing pilot—quietly burns a couple hundred dollars a year. A modern replacement seals the wall, heats the room, and changes how the whole space gets used.

In most jurisdictions, yes—fireplace and stove installations involve venting, clearances, and often gas or electrical work that gets permitted and inspected. That's a feature, not a hassle: the inspection protects your family and your homeowner's insurance. A professional installer pulls the permit, installs to code, and stands behind the inspection. If someone suggests skipping it, keep looking.