About The Report:


This report shows how the tactics employed by the Alberta Government to harass, silence and intimidate critics of the oil industry are similar to those used in autocratic regimes such as Russia, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

The report outlines three main tactics employed in Alberta that are common to the “petro-state playbook”: 

  1. Label NGOs as foreign agents or enemies of the state – also employed by Russia, Venezuela, and Iran
  2. Deny or revoke the charitable status of groups that speak out – also employed by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Russia
  3. Criminalize peaceful protest – also employed in Kuwait, Russia, some states in Australia and numerous U.S. states



Download The Report

Read The Blog


Tactic 1: Label NGOs as foreign agents or enemies of the state


The Alberta government’s repeated false claims that opponents of the province’s oil and gas industry are working on behalf of foreign interests, is a common tactic used in other countries to dismiss opponents and cast aspersions on their motivations. Russia, for example, also dismisses critics as “foreign agents.” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attempts to delegitimize critics by accusing them of conspiring with foreign governments, and in Iran, environmentalists have been jailed and accused of espionage.





Tactic 2: Deny or revoke the charitable status of groups that speak out


Premier Kenney’s threats to revoke the charitable status of NGOs is also a common petro-state tactic. Like the inquiry into “UnAlbertan activities,” Russia passed an “Undesirable Organizations Law” that gives the government powers to penalize dissenting organizations. And Saudi Arabia denies operating licenses to new organizations that confront government policy and disbands any that are deemed to be “harming national unity.”

Tactic 3: Criminalize Peaceful Protest

Alberta’s recent move to intimidate and criminalize protest against fossil fuels projects is also a petro-state favourite, though this tactic is employed in democratic countries as well. Nine U.S. states have passed laws criminalizing protest in a similar fashion to what has been done in Alberta, and eight others are considering similar legislation. Alberta’s legislation bears a strong resemblance to model legislation drafted by the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, a powerful industry lobby group.