Pathways Alliance, a consortium of Canada’s largest oilsands companies, has removed all its content from its website, social media and other public communications, citing federal Bill C-59.
Bill C-59, which is currently before the Senate, would require companies to provide evidence to back up their environmental claims.
On its website, Pathways cites amendments to the Competition Act that would create “significant uncertainty” for Canadian companies that “want to communicate publicly about the work they are doing to improve their environmental performance.”
“With uncertainty on how the new law will be interpreted and applied, any clarity the Competition Bureau can provide through specific guidance may help direct our communications approach in the future,” the website reads.
“For now, we have removed content from our website, social media and other public communications.”
CBC News has reached out to the Pathways Alliance for additional comment.
Asked about the move by reporters on Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that in a democracy, it’s important that “people build their positions and their decisions around facts.”
“Now, freedom of expression, freedom of people to share their points of view, is extraordinarily important. It’s one of the foundations of a free and open democracy,” Trudeau said.
“But we need to make sure that people are debating and discussing and basing their worldview on things that are anchored in truth and reality.”
Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz has called the provision an “undemocratic gag order” that creates needless uncertainty for businesses. CBC News has reached out for additional comment.
Pathways Alliance members react
Members of the Pathways Alliance have also expressed uncertainty around the omnibus bill. In a statement on its website, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. wrote that the legislation wouldn’t change the company’s commitment to the environment.
Imperial Oil, another member of the consortium, displayed a disclaimer on its news page as of Thursday morning.
“Due to changes in the Competition Act, this archived information is provided solely for historical information and reference purposes. This information does not constitute an active representation of Imperial,” the disclaimer reads.
“Imperial fully disclaims any liability for the use of such information, and undertakes no obligation to update such information except as required by applicable law.”
The advocacy group Environmental Defence claimed Thursday the move indicated that Pathways doesn’t “have evidence to support the story they’re selling on carbon capture, and that its member companies’ business plans don’t align with a net-zero future.”
“It’s clear that rules to rein in greenwashing are needed, and that C-59 is doing its job effectively if organizations like the Pathways Alliance are scrambling to take down their unsubstantiated environmental claims and rethinking their misleading advertising plans,” the group wrote in a statement.
The Calgary Chamber of Commerce wrote in a statement on Thursday that the amendments in Bill C-59 would limit disclosure of climate targets and ambitions to investors and financial markets.
“The Investment Tax Credits and other long-overdue measures included in Bill C-59 are unfortunately obfuscated by other aspects of the bill — including the so-called ‘greenwashing’ amendments introduced last-minute and without consultation — casting a shroud over what could have been a good news story,” wrote Chamber president Deborah Yedlin, in a statement.
The Pathways Alliance, whose membership consists of Canada’s six largest oilsands companies, has previously run ads across the country promoting its ambition to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from oilsands production by 2050.
Some environmental groups have said these ads are misleading, as the Pathways Alliance has not yet made a final investment decision on its proposed $16.5-billion carbon capture and storage network.
More to come
