Canada’s top oil and gas lobby group is overwhelmingly propped up by foreign corporations
By Donya Ziaee, Communication Officer (Research and Analysis), The Council of Canadians
Today, we are releasing a report that has huge implications for how we think about climate policy and democracy in Canada.
As the world grapples with a growing climate crisis, the report reveals that wealthy foreign-owned oil corporations have been using their power to protect their profits and block climate action in Canada.
Written by Gordon Laxer, researcher, political economist, and a founding member of the Council of Canadians, the new study sheds light on the enormous power that Big Foreign Oil wields in Canadian politics.
We are proud to be releasing this report alongside the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ BC and Saskatchewan offices.
Big Foreign Oil has been working through the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), Canada’s top oil and gas lobby group, to shape climate and energy policy in Canada and stall meaningful action.
While CAPP claims to champion Canadian interests, it is heavily dominated by Big Foreign Oil. The report found that the majority of the corporations on CAPP’s board were either fully or majority foreign-owned.
Through CAPP, these foreign multinationals influence our federal and provincial elections, make financial contributions to political parties and candidates, lobby governments, and mobilize so-called ‘grassroots’ groups to further their interests.
READ HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORT
Oil and gas production makes up the biggest source of carbon pollution in Canada. But in large part because of Big Foreign Oil’s influence, our governments have been slow to adopt policies that get us off fossil fuels and help move oil workers and their communities towards a more economically vibrant future.
At a time when people in the country are consistently ranking the climate crisis as a top issue of concern, we need our governments to be listening to us, not extractive corporations. Canadians expect that policies enacted in our name are shaped by us, not by wealthy foreign corporations.
Sign our petition and urge Prime Minister Trudeau to get foreign corporate money out of Canadian politics.
In the weeks and months ahead, we’ll be releasing more of Gordon Laxer’s research as shorter, more digestible blog posts.
Stay tuned for webinars with Gordon in the new year as well.
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