Environmental Defence’s latest analysis of the federal Lobby Registry shows Big Oil has unprecedented access to the federal government. 

Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – New analysis from Environmental Defence shows that Big Oil lobbyists had 1318 meetings with Prime Minister Carney’s government during the first year of the administration. 

“Since becoming Prime Minister, Mark Carney has taken a wrecking ball to the country’s climate progress. And it’s no wonder, given that fossil fuel lobbyists have been given unprecedented access to his government,” said Julia Levin, Associate Director, National Climate at Environmental Defence. “PM Carney has given oil lobbyists everything on their wishlist, including free rein to pollute without limits, dismantled environmental protections and taxpayer money for economically and environmentally risky projects like LNG, carbon capture and pipelines.” 

Minister Hodgson, responsible for energy and natural resources, has met with Big Oil lobbyists over 83 times. That’s the equivalent of once every three days. Meanwhile, he has refused requests to meet with environmental experts. 

“Minister Hodgson has been cheerleading for fossil fuel corporations, even greenwashing the industry’s climate and environmental impact. As a reminder, the oil and gas industry is Canada’s largest source of the climate pollution that’s driving disasters like wildfires, heat waves and floods,” said Levin. “Canadians can’t trust Minister Hodgson – who served on the board of an oil company – to regulate the industry that he has such cozy ties to.”  

Key Findings

  • The federal government was lobbied by the fossil fuel industry at least 1318 times, 5 times per working day, between May 2025 – April 2026. 
  • Prime Minister Carney has met with fossil fuel industry lobbyists at least 14 times during his first year as PM, and over 20 since being elected Liberal Party leader.
  • Tim Hodgson, Minister of Natural Resources, has taken at least 83 meetings with the fossil fuel lobby.  That’s more than four times as many meetings as the most lobbied Minister in 2024, former Finance Minister Freeland, who met with oil lobbyists 19 times.
  • The most active fossil fuel lobbyists were the companies making up the Oil Sands Alliance – an alliance of the largest oilsands companies, who are behind the Pathways CCS project – with a total of 305 meetings.

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