(Calgary) Oil sands group Alliance New Pathways has removed all content from its website and social media feeds.
All that remains on the consortium’s website is a notice that the New Ways Alliance has removed certain content due to uncertainty surrounding a trade expression provision that could mislead the public regarding environment in federal Bill C-59.
The omnibus budget bill, which has yet to gain royal assent, contains a truth-in-advertising amendment that would require companies to provide evidence to support their environmental claims.
“Because there remains some uncertainty regarding the interpretation and application of the new law, the publication of clear directives by the Competition Bureau would allow us to better direct our future communications. In the meantime, we have removed certain content from our website, social media and other public platforms,” reads a short statement on the consortium website.
Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Shulz called the provision an “undemocratic gag order” that creates unnecessary uncertainty for businesses.
The New Ways Alliance, which brings together Canada’s six largest oilsands companies, has already run ads across the country promoting its ambition to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from production of oil sands by 2050.
Some environmental groups said the ads were misleading because the New Pathways Alliance has yet to make a final investment decision on its $16.5 billion carbon capture and storage network project.
Greenpeace Canada argued Thursday that Canadian companies with climate commitments need not worry about the changes made to Bill C-59.
“Clearly the tar sands companies have realized that they can no longer continue their bluff and greenwashing that goes against the law,” said Nola Poirier, senior researcher and editor at Greenpeace Canada, in a statement written.
She recalled that the Competition Bureau is already investigating the New Ways Alliance to determine whether it has violated competition law.
