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https://freedium.cfd/https://medium.com/the-future-is-electric/canada-regulates-disinformation-oil-gas-industry-freaks-out-361b5f2a042f>
"You might be surprised to know that the oil, gas, and coal industries make
claims that aren't completely aligned with reality, and indeed often make
claims that have no discernible relationship to it. I know, I know, it's a
shocking revelation. That's why Canadian firms in the sector are leading the
charge against new Canadian regulation, or battening down the hatches, or
perhaps circling the wagons, or maybe advancing to the rear. It's all rather
confused right now.
What's the impetus for this
running in all directions reaction? The Canadian
government is taking significant steps to combat greenwashing with the
introduction of new provisions in Bill C-59, spearheaded by Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. These measures, part of
the broader amendments to the Competition Act, aim to enhance transparency and
accountability in environmental marketing claims. Companies are now required to
substantiate their sustainability claims with reliable data and third-party
verification to avoid hefty fines that can reach up to 3% of annual global
revenues, capped at $15 million, for each offense. The provisions also empower
private parties to directly bring claims to the Competition Tribunal, bypassing
the traditional reliance on the Competition Bureau for enforcement. This move
is designed to crack down on misleading environmental claims and ensure that
consumers can trust the green credentials of the products they purchase.
That's horrible and draconian, isn't it? Being required to substantiate
positive environmental claims with data and third-party assessments? It's
almost like being required to tell the truth. You can see why the Canadian oil
and gas industry is freaking out. After all, this is the industry that had its
captive Albertan government create Canada's Energy War Room, officially known
as the Canadian Energy Centre. It was announced in 2019 by the Alberta
government under Premier Jason Kenney with a budget of $30 million per year.
The initiative aimed to counter what the government described as misinformation
about Alberta's oil and gas industry and to promote the province's energy
sector. However, the War Room has faced numerous embarrassments since its
inception. Shortly after launching, it was criticized for using a logo that
closely resembled that of a US software company, leading to an expensive
rebranding effort. Additionally, it was caught using stock photos from foreign
countries in its promotional materials, which undermined its credibility. The
War Room's lack of transparency and accountability, operating as a private
corporation exempt from certain oversight, also attracted significant public
and media scrutiny. These issues culminated in widespread criticism that the
War Room was more of a propaganda tool than a legitimate source of
information."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
