It is time for Prime Minister Carney to accept the oil and gas industry for what they actually are, not how he wishes they were. Statement from Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence
Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – Prime Minister Carney must now realize that there is no grand bargain waiting to be struck with the oil and gas industry. The recent submission from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) makes that clear. This is not an industry interested in decarbonizing oil or reducing its pollution. Instead, they are looking to sidestep their responsibilities, pump out more methane, and leave Canadians to deal with the consequences.
Most notably, CAPP attempts to twist the Prime Minister’s Davos speech, in which he urged world leaders to take the world as it is, not as they wished it to be, as a justification for scaling back climate ambition. This is counterfactual, as the growing climate catastrophe represents the world as it is. Their view is also insulting to the millions of Canadians who have lived through horrific wildfires and floods and are seeing an increase in the cost of living due to climate change.
CAPP also points to the United States repealing climate regulations as justification for Canada to weaken its own system. Their message is clear: they want Canada to follow Donald Trump’s approach and roll over to the fossil fuel industry. This is not “elbow’s up”, it is capitulation.
Recent analysis shows that industrial carbon pricing is the single largest driver of emissions reductions in Canada, and strengthening it is necessary for competitiveness. Weakening this policy would undercut the price signal that drives investment decisions and leave Canada without any tools to reduce emissions at a level needed to meet our climate goals.
This tactic is not new. Whether it was during COVID-19, in response to the proposed oil and gas emissions cap, or now under the banner of economic sovereignty, CAPP’s position has always been the same: roll back climate policy so the oil and gas industry doesn’t have to be held accountable for reducing its own pollution.
The global economy is shifting. Clean energy investment is accelerating, carbon border measures are advancing, and climate disasters are driving up the costs of failing to move quickly. If the federal government does what the oil and gas industry wants , Canadians will be left even further behind in the global energy transition.
The real risk to Canada’s competitiveness isn’t strong climate policy and investment in clean energy. Rather it is allowing an industry that consistently resists accountability to undermine rules, push Canada to mirror the United States’ rollback of climate regulation and leave Canadians to suffer the repercussions.
Prime Minister Carney must stand by his commitments on climate and the clean energy transition and recognize that no grand bargain will ever be achieved with an industry bent on increasing its profits and pollution, no matter the consequences.
For more information that refutes the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers’ assertions, please refer to our latest backgrounder.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Midhat Moini, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
