Carbon capture in doubt? Pathways Alliance pulls down website info in response to feds Bill C-59

Oil companies, including the group Pathways Alliance, have taken down significant portions of their website in response to what they call “vague” guidelines in a new law by the federal government.

Certain sections of Bill C-59, the Competition Act, look to tackle “greenwashing”, when companies use false information when boasting about their environmental record or make false claims as to how they are reducing emissions. 

This prompted many oil producers to take down much of their online information to find out the true meaning of the legislation, calling it vague. 

Pathways Alliance is a consortium of six major companies (Canadian Natural Resources, Cenovus Energy, ConocoPhillips Canada, Imperial Oil, Meg Energy Corp. and Suncor Energy) that form Pathways Alliance, have held out hopes of a massive multi-billion dollar carbon capture project in the Cold Lake region. 

The project would have massive ramifications of the local economy. Lakeland Connect reported in October 2023 that the investment dollars would total $16.5 billion and some 30,000 construction jobs required in the northeast corner of the province. 

Some experts however have been skeptical about the true environmental impact such a project would have. 

“As part of late changes to the omnibus Bill C-59, imminent amendments to the Competition Act will create significant uncertainty for Canadian companies that want to communicate publicly about the work they are doing to improve their environmental performance, including to address climate change,” Pathways says on their website. 

“With uncertainty on how the new law will be interpreted and applied, any clarity the Competition Bureau can provide through specific guidance may help direct our communications approach in the future. For now, we have removed content from our website, social media and other public communications. This is a direct consequence of the new legislation and is not related to our belief in the truth and accuracy of our environmental communications.”

A statement from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Thursday called the bill “draconian” and said the province is exploring every legal option to fight it.

“…Legislation that will irreparably harm Canadian’s ability to hear the truth about the energy industry and Alberta’s successes in reducing global emissions.

“Bill C–59, when it receives royal assent, will prevent private entities from sharing truthful and evidence-based information that happens to oppose the extreme and untruthful oil and gas narrative of the federal NDP and Liberals. This is being done to intentionally intimidate boards and shareholders, silence debate, and amplify the voices of those who oppose Canada’s world leading energy industry.”

When asked about how the interpretation of the bill could be stifling communication, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that, “people build their positions and their decisions around facts.”

“Now, freedom of expression, freedom of people to share their points of view, is extraordinarily important. It’s one of the foundations of a free and open democracy,” Trudeau said.

“But we need to make sure that people are debating and discussing and basing their worldview on things that are anchored in truth and reality.”