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Category: Press Release

  • EDC Congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney On His Election Win

    Canadian flag flies over forest

    Statement by Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – I wish to express my congratulations to Prime Minister Carney for winning the election. Canadians have spoken up loudly in defence of Canadian values and sovereignty, and rebuked the anti-democratic and anti-environmental agenda now rolling out in the U.S. This is a win for science, a win for democracy and a win for Canada’s environment and Canadians’ ability to protect it.  

    Successfully addressing Canada’s housing supply and affordability, the cost of living, security and future prosperity is deeply dependent on adopting policy solutions that protect the environment. It will be critical to the future success of our country that our incoming federal government understands this reality and implements solutions that make change quickly. 

    These actions will take place within a context of Canada needing to catch up to other global leaders in the effort to make our energy systems non-polluting. We encourage the Prime Minister to move forward with his commitment to strengthen industrial carbon pricing, to support clean energy, to invest in clean transportation and more affordable and efficient homes, and to swiftly finalize the oil and gas pollution cap. We caution against spending public money on new oil and gas pipelines or on continued fossil fuel subsidies. We trust that Mr. Carney knows full well that Canada’s economic future will be best secured by focusing on where the global energy system is going, not where it has been.  

    Canada has played a constructive role in international efforts to combat climate change, protect biodiversity and stem the tide of plastic pollution. It is our expectation that Prime Minister Carney will carry this tradition forward, and it is our hope that he will position Canada as a leader in these efforts, just as he positioned himself as a progressive environmental leader in financial circles.  

    With a new mandate as Prime Minister, Mark Carney will now have the opportunity to take bold action on the ideas he has long advocated for. He can lead the implementation of a rapid shift to clean energy and a climate-solutions oriented financial system. He can lead Canada in a march forward with the rest of the world toward a prosperous new economy while the U.S. turns backward.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Brittany Harris, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

     

    The post EDC Congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney On His Election Win appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Statement on CSA Pausing Work on Mandatory Climate Disclosures 

    ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, ECOJUSTICE, SHIFT: ACTION FOR PENSION WEALTH & PLANET HEALTH

    Toronto, ON | Traditional territories of the Wendat, Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewa and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), the umbrella group representing Canada’s 13 provincial and territorial securities regulators, announced a ‘pause’ today on its work in developing new mandatory climate-related disclosure rules. 

    This is a shocking abdication of responsibility from Canada’s financial regulators.

    Mandatory climate-related disclosure rules are essential for financial regulators to meet their mandates to ensure the stability of the financial system and reduce systemic risk. They are also critical for investors and companies to prepare for climate disruption. Governments, financial experts and regulators (including the Bank of Canada and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions) have long warned about the existential nature of climate risks for companies and Canada’s financial system.   

    Basic climate risk disclosure rules are becoming widespread globally. Canadian standards were finalized last year, aligning with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), for which Canada is a key participant. Canada was selected to host one of two ISSB American regional offices in Montreal. 

    Rather than ‘supporting Canadian markets and issuers’, today’s pause exposes them to significant uncertainty and risk, while limiting the flow of international capital into Canada’s economy.  

    Quotes:

    Adam Scott, Executive Director of Shift: Action for Pension Wealth & Planet Health said:

    “The CSA and its members have dragged their feet in establishing even basic climate disclosure rules for years. Now, along with Canadian fossil fuel CEOs, they’ve cynically used political instability and threats of tariffs as an excuse to back out of climate obligations. This bad-faith move undermines their credibility in protecting investors, ensuring fair, efficient and transparent markets, and reducing systemic risks. Delaying these rules will hurt Canadians and damage Canada’s financial markets.” 

    Julie Segal, Senior Manager of Climate Finance at Environmental Defence Canada said:

    “As the U.S. picks a fight with Canada, other global trading partners with strong climate finance rules are becoming more important to our economy. Over 1,300 Canadian companies are covered by European sustainability reporting rules. The CSA is being regressive. Postponing requirements for businesses to get prepared for climate change and align with positive climate action will only leave businesses less prepared, investors less informed, and Canada’s economy less competitive. Protecting Canada means requiring full climate risk disclosures and credible transition plans.”

    Karine Peloffy, Lawyer and Sustainable Finance Lead at Ecojustice said: 

    “There is no comfort to be taken by the fact that climate related risks already need to be disclosed if they are material under existing law. Even back in 1972, the Journal of Accountancy was lamenting that “[t]he abuse of the concept of [materiality] is pervasive as it all too often cloaks nondisclosure of material financial transactions…there are literally hundreds of public corporate audits taking place each year that contain important accounting transactions that aren’t revealed, due to the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ judgment of materiality exercised by a large portion of the accounting fraternity.’ More recently, Ms. Herren Lee, the former Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission who first proposed climate specific disclosure rules in the U.S., stated ‘lawyers, auditors, and managers can and do get the determination of materiality wrong.’ A recent survey of approximately 2,000 Chartered Financial Analysts from around the world found that two-thirds believed that climate change-related risks are not sufficiently reflected in current financial market prices. New rules are needed.” All sources quoted are referenced here.

    About: 

    Shift: Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health (a project of Makeway) is a charitable initiative that works to protect pensions and the climate by bringing together beneficiaries and their pension funds to engage on the climate crisis.

    Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    Ecojustice uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change and fight for a healthy environment. Its strategic, public interest lawsuits and advocacy lead to precedent-setting court decisions, law and policy that deliver lasting solutions to Canada’s most urgent environmental problems. As Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice operates offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax. 

    -30-

    For interview requests:

    Adam Scott, Executive Director, Shift: Action for Pension Wealth & Planet Health, adamscott@shiftaction.ca  

    Alex Ross, Environmental Defence Canada, media@environmentaldefence.ca 

    The post Statement on CSA Pausing Work on Mandatory Climate Disclosures  appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • New polling confirms people in Canada support action on plastics, forever chemicals

    Plastic bags, water bottles, and other plastic items discarded in a pond.

    86 per cent support the Government of Canada stepping in to stop plastic pollution both at home and around the world with international allies

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – A survey commissioned by Environmental Defence and conducted by Abacus Research between April 14 and 16, 2025 reconfirms that people across Canada overwhelmingly support action from the federal government to tackle plastic pollution and forever chemicals. Nearly 90 per cent of respondents want the federal government to get toxic chemicals out of products, while 86 per cent support federal action on plastic pollution.

    “These results demonstrate that the next government has the clear support of the country to address the plastic pollution crisis,” said Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager for Plastics at Environmental Defence. “People in every part of the country recognize the threat that runaway use of unnecessary plastics poses to our health and the environment, and want our government to tackle it.”

    “People in Canada want a less toxic future,” said Cassie Barker, Senior Program Manager for Toxics at Environmental Defence. “Canada’s move to regulate PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ earlier this year puts it on the leading edge of countries working to get this class of harmful chemicals out of products. The next government must move forward to restrict PFAS and other harmful chemicals, bringing the co-benefit of easing trade with countries in the E.U. that have more protective chemical regulations.” 

    Environmental Defence is urging all federal parties to:

    • Protect and expand the Canada-wide bans on harmful single-use plastics
    • Launch a dedicated fund to scale up infrastructure for reuse and refill systems using made-in-Canada materials to decrease our reliance on single-use packaging
    • Ensure all people across Canada have access to robust and effective deposit-return programs for beverage containers
    • Take a leadership role in finalizing an ambitious Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution, working with allies in Europe and the Global South
    • Move quickly to finalize the listing of PFAS as toxic under Canada’s environmental protection law, and expedite regulations for prohibiting these toxic chemicals from consumer products such as clothing and textiles, food packaging, cosmetics, and paints.

    About the poll:

    The survey was conducted with 1,200 adult Canadians over the age of 18 from April 14 to 16, 2025. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 2.82%, 19 times out of 20. 

    Click here to view the detailed results.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Mira Merchant, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post New polling confirms people in Canada support action on plastics, forever chemicals appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Survey: Transit Commitments from Federal Parties Will Strengthen Economy and Climate

    Environmental groups receive the results to a policy survey on public transit commitments sent to federal parties

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Public transit and environmental groups across Canada have released the results of a policy survey on transit commitments from federal parties. Candidates from the Liberal, New Democrat, Bloc Québécois, and Green Parties provided responses or shared commitments in their party platform. No representative from the Conservative Party provided transit commitments by response or through their platform by the deadline of April 18, 2025.

    Environmental Defence, TTCriders, Transport Action Canada, Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders, CUSP-Citizens United for a Sustainable Planet, Regina Citizens Public Transit Coalition, Activate Transit Windsor Essex, Edmonton Transit Riders and Tri-Cities Transport Action circulated a survey to all federal parties to learn about their commitments to invest in public transit for a strong economy.

    With no responses from central party campaigns, we reviewed party platforms and candidate replies. The table below shows whether a commitment came from a platform or an individual candidate.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Full party platforms are available for the Liberal, Conservative, Bloc Québécois, New Democrat, and Green parties.

    Quotes:

    Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence:

    “There is one government investment that makes life cheaper, less polluting and more enjoyable for most people. That investment is new bus and train lines accompanied by the money for staff to operate them”

    Terence Johnson, President, Transport Action Canada:

    “Operating funding, lifecycle replacement funding, and new capital investments must go hand in hand to ensure that municipalities and transit agencies can deliver the most reliable, comprehensive, and accessible service possible with the dollars invested.”

    Denis Agar, Executive Director, Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders:

    “Every dollar spent on transit saves Canadians money, and creates good jobs in Canada. In the face of economic uncertainty coming from south of the border, there’s no downside to building an excellent public transit network that we can be proud of.”

    Andrew Pulsifer, Executive Director, TTCriders:

    “Federal investment in new subway trains for Toronto’s Line 2 will generate good manufacturing jobs in Canada and strengthen our economy at the same time as it will make transit more reliable for hundreds of thousands of Toronto residents.”

    Eric Doherty, Spokesperson, Climate Justice Victoria:

    “Public transit investments are good economic policy, while also ensuring everyone can fully participate in society regardless of their needs and abilities.”

    Brad Evoy, Executive Director, Disability Justice Network of Ontario:

    “Meaningful transit investment at the federal level means real opportunity for universal, common standards of accessibility for all. Disabled riders need to be free to get where we need to be all across the country.”

    Terri Sleeva, Community Organizer:

    “A transit system is a necessary lifeline in modern society. People and the environment both benefit when this method is chosen.”

    Paul Berger, Lead Organizer, CUSP – Citizens United for a Sustainable Planet:

    “There will be no success on climate without robust public transit. Period. This is climate change mitigation 101.”

    Michael Druker, Tri-Cities Transport Action Group Co-Lead:

    “Operational funding is crucial to enable local transit agencies like Grand River Transit to build a frequent service network and make other service improvements that would allow more people to choose transit over driving.”

    Background information:

    There is growing consensus that the federal government should invest in transit operating costs.

    • In October 2024, mayors and transit board chairs representing urban regions across Canada met in Ottawa to call on the federal government to work with local and provincial governments to address the funding crisis facing the country’s largest transit agencies, and develop a new, sustainable funding model for public transportation.
    • The current model is one where the federal government provides money for cities to buy new buses and trains, but does not invest in running service.
    • Federal support for transit operating budgets would be a quick and effective way to increase ridership by enabling transit systems to get their idle vehicles running again.
    • The Affordability Action Council has recommended that the proposed Permanent Public Transit Fund be accelerated, and designed so that municipalities can use the fund to support operating budget needs.
    • Nearly 100 organizations across Canada signed a letter in advance of the 2024 federal budget, encouraging investment in transit operations funding. This funding would support inter-community bus services connecting rural communities that have been chronically underserved by public transit.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    ABOUT TTCRIDERS (ttcriders.ca): TTCriders is a membership-based transit advocacy organization that works for better, more affordable, and more accessible public transit in Toronto.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Karishma Porwal, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    Andrew Pulsifer, TTCRiders, andrew@ttcriders.ca

    The post Survey: Transit Commitments from Federal Parties Will Strengthen Economy and Climate appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Ford Government Backtracks on Promise to Require EA for Proposed Dresden Dump

    Garbage pile in trash dump or landfill. Pollution concept.

    Statement by Rebecca Kolarich, Water program manager

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – It’s shameful that the Ford government is backpedaling on its promise to protect the Sydenham River and surrounding communities from York1’s proposed Dresden Dump. If passed, Bill 5 would remove environmental assessment requirements from the site and cause devastating impacts to the Sydenham River’s most species-rich area.

    Moving forward with this bill would pollute sensitive waterways and make it easier than ever to destroy and displace Ontario’s species—which is short-sighted and ultimately bad policy.

    The proposed dump site is adjacent to Molly’s Creek, which flows directly into the Sydenham River. The Sydenham is a well-documented biological hotspot that is home to at least 33 species-at-risk. If the dump is built, toxic substances and chemicals could leach into Molly’s Creek and the Sydenham. This would contaminate critical habitats and threaten some of Ontario’s rarest species like the Eastern spiny softshell turtle and Salamander mussel, pushing them closer to the brink of extinction.

    By removing the environmental assessment requirements, Premier Ford is revealing his government’s ‘pave-it-over’ approach that prioritizes harmful infrastructure projects over environmental protection. Premier Ford is giving Ontarians the false impression that we must choose between the economy and the environment—but in reality, Ontario’s economy, health and sovereignty is directly linked to a thriving, healthy environment.

    Background information:

    • York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd. filed a proposal with Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to revive and expand a dormant landfill on Irish School Rd. in Dresden, Ont. 
    • In 2024, former Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Andrea Khanjin, designated a comprehensive environmental assessment for the proposed dump after pressure from Dresden residents, local councillors and neighbouring communities. 
    • If passed, Bill 5  would remove the environmental assessment requirements for York1’s proposed dump – a little over one year after the province designated a comprehensive environmental assessment for the project.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Cecilia Stuart, Environmental Defence
    media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post Ford Government Backtracks on Promise to Require EA for Proposed Dresden Dump appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Joint Statement: Freshwater In Canada Is Not For Sale

    Federal parties and candidates must respond to Trump’s threats to freshwater health and abundance in Canada: Environmental and Indigneous-led organizations released an open letter today demanding leaders to act.

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – A network of water protection advocates, and environmental and Indigenous-led organizations have released an open letter signed by 85 groups to call on all federal political parties and candidates to commit to defending freshwater in Canada.

    The Trump Administration’s threat to freshwater in Canada cannot be underestimated. It has threatened to tear up water agreements to tap shared waters, while simultaneously gutting U.S. departments and initiatives that support transboundary waters, like the Great Lakes.

    The signatories to the open letter demand that all federal candidates commit to upholding and strengthening existing binational agreements as well as Canadian legislation that protects freshwater and restores its health. This includes respecting Indigenous sovereignty and water rights.

    Ashley Wallis, Associate Director at Environmental Defence:

    “There is no economy or sovereignty without freshwater. Ninety-one per cent of people in Canada believe it’s important for Canada’s governments to protect fresh water and defend freshwater security. Defending its future, and restoring and maintaining its health must be a top priority for governments of all political stripes across all borders. Under no circumstances can fresh water in Canada be used as a bargaining chip.”

    Maude Barlow, co-founder of the Council of Canadians:

    “Donald Trump wants to make America a manufacturing, energy and AI powerhouse and for that, he needs water and lots of it. Canada does not have water to spare; most provinces experience drought and wildfires every summer. We need to hear from all political parties that they will stand firm in protecting Canada’s water heritage.”

    Arlene Slocombe, Executive Director at Water Watchers:

    “Water has always been a powerful unifier. This informal network of organizations came together to voice our call to all candidates seeking election to stand unified in a commitment to protect and defend the integrity of watersheds and all agreements to that end. Canadians are united in our opposition to bulk water exports. This is an important moment in time for a unified voice to safeguard precious and life-giving waters, to respect Indigenous nations’ sovereignty and inherent and legislative water rights through shared governance of healthy waters, watersheds, ecosystems that impact our human and more-than-human communities.”

    Gerry Cheezie, Co-chair of Keepers of the Water:

    “The First Nations of Canada stand united under the sacred Treaties 1-11 and our Inherent Aboriginal Rights over our land, water and air. To our people the water, the  land and the air are intertwined in our lives, one cannot live without the other. These are gifts the Creator gave us when Mother Earth was created and we are entrusted to care for these gifts. We did not cede or surrender water as Governments and Industry want you to think and accept, we have sovereign rights to the water that flows through our lands. We will never give up that right. The First Nations of Canada have experienced abuse of water in Canada. We will never agree to selling our water.”

    Rébecca Pétrin, Executive Director at Eau Secours:

    “The human right to water must be upheld without compromise. We add our voice to those of our partners so that the unique nature of water is recognized by our government leaders and its protection is strengthened through a rigorous and coherent Canadian legislative framework.”

    Mark Hancock, National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees:

    “Make no mistake – Donald Trump’s trade war on Canada is about corporate America wanting to profit off Canada’s public services. Water is a public resource, not a commodity for investors to buy and sell. We must remain vigilant and fight water privatization everywhere we see it. CUPE is committed to this fight. I’m proud of our union’s work to fight water privatization, and I encourage everyone to support CUPE’s Water is Life campaign.”

    Dr John O’Connor, Keepers of the Water, Safe Drinking Water Foundation, CAPE:

    “Water is the basis for all life. It should be treated as such, guarded, respected, regulated and treasured. It is priceless – therefore does not have a price attached to it. Far too often it is taken for granted, and commodified. It is ours, and ours alone!”

    Michelle Woodhouse, Great Lakes Governance Specialist and Métis/British-Canadian Water Protector:

    “All of these shared waters agreements are critical pillars for international water diplomacy and governance between Canada and the U.S. since their establishment. They help to safeguard the ecological integrity of our shared waters and to prevent unsustainable malpractices from steering us into disaster. Our quality of life depends on the health of these shared watersheds which support multibillion dollar economies. Canadian leaders and Indigenous leadership must stand strong and united to uphold and protect these agreements.”

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    ABOUT EAU SECOURS (eausecours.org):
    Eau Secours’s mission is to promote the protection and responsible management of water from the perspective of environmental health, equity, accessibility, and the collective defense of people’s rights.

    ABOUT THE COUNCIL OF CANADIANS (canadians.org):
    Since 1985, the Council of Canadians has been a home for people who believe a better Canada is not only possible, but necessary. The Council’s work has always been built on a strong foundation of timely and strategic campaigns for the values, social programs and progressive policies we all believe in.

    ABOUT KEEPERS OF THE WATER (keepersofthewater.ca):
    Keepers of the Water are First Nations, Métis, Inuit, environmental groups, concerned citizens, and communities working together for the protection of water, land, air, and all of the life forms within the Arctic Ocean Drainage Basin.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Karishma Porwal, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    Mathieu Langlois, Eau Secours, communications@eausecours.org

    Eagleclaw Thom, The Council of Canadians, ethom@canadians.org

    Talon Giroux, Keepers of the Water, communications@keepersofthewater.ca

    The post Joint Statement: Freshwater In Canada Is Not For Sale appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Ontarians of Every Generation Rally for Yours to Protect Week 2025

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – From April 19 to 27, environmental groups across Ontario will host events in their communities as part of Yours To Protect Week 2025.

    Yours to Protect Week helps people in Ontario find Earth Week events in their communities. This year there are more than 30 events ranging from rallies to film screenings, with Seniors for Climate hosting over a dozen.

    “Seniors across Ontario are joining with more than 50 Seniors For Climate locations across Canada this Earth Day to push for faster and bolder action on climate change to protect the people and places we love from the consequences of burning too much oil, gas and coal,” said Seniors for Climate spokesperson David Smith. “There are reliable, healthier and less expensive alternatives to providing the energy we need.”

    WHO: The Yours to Protect movement is a coalition of environmental and community groups fighting for better environmental policies in Ontario. 

    WHAT: Yours to Protect Week days of action, featuring more than 30 events including film screenings, community clean-ups and family-friendly fairs.

    WHERE: Events will take place all across Ontario, from Thunder Bay to Niagara-on-the-Lake. A map of all events is available at environmentaldefence.ca/ytpweekend2025/

    WHEN: April 19 to 27. Exact times and dates vary by location.  

     

     

    Beamsville
    EcoFest – An Earth Day Event!
    April 19 from 12 – 3 p.m.
    The Fleming Centre, 5020 Serena Dr.
    Description: Everyone is invited to celebrate Earth Day at this free family event! Meet with members of 10+ local environmental groups, find some native seeds to grow, learn more about the value of native plants and Lincoln’s new Urban Forest policies and possibly pick up a native tree to plant (by donation, if you are a Lincoln resident). There will also be a presentation at 1:15 p.m. titled “Birds! – Our Only Surviving Dinosaurs.”

    Burlington
    Earth Day at the Beach
    April 19 from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    1094 Lakeshore Rd.
    Description: Celebrate Earth Day with a meaningful day of family-friendly action, learning and community spirit! Drop in for all-ages fun and interactive hands-on activities such as pollinator-friendly seed ball-making and opportunities to share your eco-actions and hopes for the future.

    Caledon
    Repair Cafe
    April 26 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    Caledon Seniors Centre, 7 Rotarian Way
    Description: Caledon residents, it’s time to gather your broken toasters, chipped mugs and torn pant hems! Caledon Reduces (a busy subcommittee of ecoCaledon) will run its Repair Café, offering you the opportunity to give your household items a second life and support a circular economy in Caledon.

    Cambridge
    Earth Day at Preston
    April 26 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    435 King St. E.
    Description: Celebrate Earth Day with green activities, crafts and seeds to take home, including the chosen seed for One Seed One Community.

    Collingwood
    EarthFest 2025
    April 27 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    100 Minnesota St.
    Description: Join us for the fourth annual EarthFest! Celebrate our planet and the incredible work being done to protect it! This free, family-friendly event brings together local environmental groups, live music, yummy eats, face painting and fun activities for all ages!

    Fergus
    Neighbourwoods Community Tree Planting Event
    April 26 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    Trestle Bridge Trail, Trailhead at 187 Beatty Line N.
    Description: Help extend our urban forest, boost biodiversity and support a healthier, happier community.

    Fonthill
    Fourth Annual Rally for Earth Day Call for Action (AREA)
    April 19 from 1 – 3 p.m.
    Peace Park, 20 Market Sq.
    Description: Saving our Wetlands, Indigenous drummers, local musician Jamie Snider and guest speakers. Bring your homemade signs. Dress for cool and wet weather.

    Georgetown
    The Halton Hills EcoFilm Fest
    April 22 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
    9 Church St.
    Description: The Halton Hills EcoFilm Fest will screen The Issue with Tissue – A Boreal Love Story.

    Guelph
    Insulate Your Wallet
    April 22 from 2 – 3:30 p.m.
    683 Woolwich St.
    Description: Learn how to make energy-efficient improvements through home improvement grants and loans.

    Preparing for Resistance: Lessons From Past and Present Struggles
    April 25 from 7 – 9 p.m.
    42 Carden St.
    Description: The true story of a rural community pushed to the limit to protect their river. Learn what resistance on the ground really looks like. How would we measure up? Film screening of Blue Heart and panel discussion with seasoned campaigners about lessons learned.

    Huntsville
    Later Is Too Late – Huntsville Film Screening
    April 22 from 1 – 2:30 p.m.
    7 Minerva St. E.
    Description: Screening of the documentary film Later Is Too Late.

    Kingston
    Seniors For Climate: Confederation Park Event
    April 26 from 1 – 4 p.m.
    Confederation Park – 216 Ontario St.
    Description:The Confederation Park event is organized by Indigenous musician and activist Yessica Rivera-Belsham together with Sustainability Kingston. There will be information tables, art activities and an Indigenous drum circle.

    Seniors For Climate Kingston Event
    April 27 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    303 York St.
    Description: There will be information tables, speakers, musicians and performers and a screening of the 22-minute version of the documentary Later is Too Late. Activities include the Kingston bucket drummers, demonstration on permaculture and food sovereignty gardens, a bike repair demonstration and information on alternatives to cars. 

    Kitchener
    Reep Open House and Taking on Climate Change Workshop
    April 22 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
    20 Mill St.
    Description: Join us from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. for an informative open house at the Reep House, where you can learn everything you need to know about sustainable solutions for your home. From 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., ClimateActionWR will be hosting a special Earth Day “Taking on Climate Change” workshop to learn more about climate change and local climate solutions

    London
    Earthfest
    April 26 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    251 Dundas St.
    Description: We will be taking part in EarthFest. We will have a table with activities for children and a petition for adults to sign as well as leaflets and handouts. We plan to show the trailer to climate documentary film Later Is Too Late at our table.

    Mississauga
    Green Drinks Mississauga
    April 23 from 6 – 8 p.m.
    The Rec Room at Square One, 100 City Centre Dr. #1-705
    Description: Share a drink and chat with other Mississauga environmentalists in the bar area of Rec Room at Square One.

    Napanee
    Earth Day 2025
    April 22 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
    Large Lounge – Best and Bash Arena – 16 McPherson Dr.
    Description: Screening of the documentary Later Is Too Late. Music by Stephen Bruce Medd. All federal election candidates in our riding have been invited to share their party’s climate change policies.

    Niagara-on-the-Lake
    Renewable Energy Fair
    April 22 from 7 – 8 p.m.
    14 Anderson Lane
    Description: We are inviting everyone to attend an information exchange about renewable energy and Ontario home efficiency rebates.

    Oshawa
    Later Is Too Late – Oshawa Film Screening
    April 22 from 6 – 8 p.m.
    2000 Simcoe St. N. – Rm UA 1220, Science Building
    Description: Screening of the documentary Later Is Too Late.

    Ottawa
    Our Power Our Planet – Working Together for the Next Generations
    April 23 from 12:30 – 3 p.m.
    Knox Presbyterian, 120 Lisgar St.
    Description: Cohosts Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Land Guardians and MPP Catherine McKenney will present.

    Owen Sound
    Earth Day Grey Bruce
    April 26 from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    1st Ave. W. between 8th and 9th Streets
    Description: We invite everyone in our diverse community to take part in a playful, child-friendly event, which includes a parade, live music, art, crafts, dance and poetry. There will be booths offering information and resources on greener living, gardening, regenerative farming, mental health, nature groups and initiatives for climate action. 

    Pelham
    Steve Bauer Trail Earth Week Cleanup
    April 14 from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    Entrance to Steve Bauer Trail, on Quaker Rd., off Welland Rd. West side at the corner of Pelham St. and Welland Rd., second street on left (south side)
    Description: Gloves, boots, rainy weather gear may be necessary, as well as tools to pick up garbage and a smile for the camera.

    Perth
    Perth Festival of the Maples
    April 26 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    84 Gore St.
    Description: Climate Network Lanark and Seniors for Climate – Perth invite you to join us for a flash mob dance at the Perth Festival of the Maples.

    Port Rowan
    Later Is Too Late – Port Rowan Film Screening
    April 22 from 2 – 5:30 p.m.
    115 Front Rd.
    Description: Screening of the documentary Later Is Too Late, guided walk, gardening demo, native plant sale and local conservation vendors.

    Stratford
    Earth Day Street Party
    April 27 from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    Factory 163, 163 King St.
    Description: A day of food, music, giveaways, art and eco-community!

    New Tecumseth
    Seniors For Climate New Tecumseth
    April 30 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
    Circle Theatre , 19 Victoria St. E.
    Description: A free screening of the award-winning documentary Plastic People, followed by a panel discussion with environmental health experts. 

    Thornbury
    Community Clean-Up
    April 26 from 2 – 4 p.m.
    The Blue Mountains Townhall, 32 Mill St.
    Description: Community clean up for the town of The Blue Mountains.

    Thunder Bay
    Earth Day Celebration
    April 22 from 4 – 8:30  p.m.
    Lunan Hall, St. Paul’s United Church, 349 Waverley St.
    Description: Crafts, games and potluck from 4-7 p.m.; Screening of the documentary Later Is Too Late at 7 p.m.

    Toronto
    For the Necessities of Life
    April 26 from 1 – 4 p.m.
    Allan Gardens (Jarvis St. at Carlton St.) – Northwest section
    Description: Speakers, music, street theatre and a kids table. We are advocating for the Canada we want — with a  healthy and sustainable environment, clean air, water, food, housing, work for all, Indigenous rights and justice for equity-seeking groups.

    Waubaushene
    Waub/TransCanada-Tay Trail Litter Day
    April 27 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    22 Old Cottage Lane (litter bag pick up)
    Description: Pick up two bags at 22 Old Cottage Lane (or use your own). Fill the bags with recycling and trash. Drop the bags at rally points. Suggested equipment: work gloves, mask.

    Wasaga Beach
    Earth Week Shoreline clean up
    April 27 from 1 – 3 p.m.
    Beach Area 2 at Wasaga Beach meeting at the 5th street parking lot
    Description: Wasaga Beach Climate Action Team, in partnership with Georgian Bay Forever, holds an annual Earth Week Shoreline clean-up.

    Find more information about Yours to Protect Weekend. 

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact event contacts listed above or:

    Cecilia Stuart, Communications Manager
    media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post Ontarians of Every Generation Rally for Yours to Protect Week 2025 appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Bill 5 Would End Endangered Species Protections and Attack Clean Energy

    Heart Lake Brampton TRCA park Miranda Baksh Ontario

    Newly tabled bill is an attack on the public direct from the Trump Administration playbook

    Statement by Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment program manager and Alienor Rougeot, Climate and Energy senior program manager

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Bill 5 would, if passed, deal a body blow to the environment and hopes for energy sovereignty in Ontario. It reads like an attempt to outdo even the most regressive policies and the most transparently false political pretexts of the Trump Administration. This Bill represents a direct attack on species at risk, clean and healthy communities, clean energy and the rights of Indigenous peoples.

    These are exactly the values Premier Ford claimed he would protect when seeking re-election. Ontarians deserve better than broken promises and policies that threaten our environment, our communities and our future.

    Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment program manager:

    “Bill 5 would repeal Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007, marking the end of most meaningful provincial protections for endangered, threatened and special concern species in Ontario. The idea that this wholesale slaughter of endangered plants and animals might help ‘protect Ontario’ or ‘unleash’ the economy is farcical. Like the Greenbelt scandal, it’s an example of the government disguising unrelated favours to its ‘friends’ as part of a policy response to very real crises.”

    Aliénor Rougeot, Climate and Energy senior program manager: 

    “It’s appalling that the government is exploiting U.S. threats to push an ideological agenda that could effectively ban solar energy in Ontario—driving up electricity bills and increasing pollution. This Act gives them the power to arbitrarily ban Chinese components in energy projects, shutting the door on clean, affordable energy just when Ontario needs it the most.”

    If passed, Bill 5, will:

    • keep Ontario dependent on imported fracked gas from the U.S. by killing homegrown renewable energy. It would enable the government to ban all parts of energy projects that come from abroad, especially China. China makes the majority of solar panels (over 80 per cent), wind turbines (around 60 per cent) and control systems in the world. If enacted, this will likely end solar power installation in Ontario and deprive Ontarians access to the cleanest source of new electricity available.
    • repeal Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007 marking the end of most meaningful provincial protections for endangered, threatened and special concern species in Ontario.
    • attempt to curtail Indigenous involvement by ending archeological assessment requirements that would identify Indigenous or other cultural values.
    • create Special Economic Zones (SEZ), where hand-picked developers can ignore municipal and provincial laws.
    • exempt the Therme Group development at Ontario Place from the requirements of the Environmental Bill of Rights.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence
    media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post Bill 5 Would End Endangered Species Protections and Attack Clean Energy appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Enviro Orgs Demand Clarity on Federal Parties’ Environmental Plans Ahead of Election

    Voters get mixed signals from federal parties on climate, nature and Indigenous-led conservation

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Canada’s leading environmental organizations have today released responses from federal parties on their environmental and climate plans. This initiative aims to provide voters with insights into how parties will tackle issues like fossil fuel pollution, biodiversity loss, Indigenous-led conservation and a clean electricity grid, if elected.

    Canadian environmental organizations issued six questions to federal political parties. Responses were received from the Liberal Party, the NDP, the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party, although some responses were incomplete. No response was received from the Conservative Party.

    As Canadians head to the polls later this month, a March 2025 Leger national survey found that more than two-thirds of people in Canada (67 per cent) agree that the next Canadian government should make climate action and protecting nature a high priority.

    Issues around taxpayer subsidies and public financing that are harmful to the environment and nature, and the establishment of an Office of Environmental Justice, were also included in the questions put to parties.

    Four out of five parties also provided responses to questions about their plans for tackling plastic pollution and dealing with toxic chemicals.    

    Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence, said: “Canadians are proud of their country and want to protect its air, water, forests and wildlife. With climate catastrophes like wildfires, floods, and biodiversity loss on the rise, we can’t afford half measures or silence. Voters deserve to know where parties stand on the urgent environmental issues shaping our future.”

    Linda Nowlan, Acting Executive Director, David Suzuki Foundation, said: “As we head to the polls later this month, one thing is certain: the climate and nature crises are not going away. The latest polling shows most Canadians want the next federal government to prioritize climate action and protect nature. As a non-partisan organization, we call on all parties to uphold Canadian values of taking care of each other and the environment.”

    Kimberly Shearon, Acting Executive Director, Ecojustice, said:  “While the United States’ unjustified trade war on Canada casts a long shadow over this federal election, the climate, pollution, and biodiversity crises rage on and promise to undermine the health, wealth, and security of all Canadians. Ecojustice challenges all parties to earn Canada’s vote with ambitious, courageous leadership that does not leave the environment, workers, or communities behind.”

    Emily McMillan, Executive Director, Nature Canada, said: “Canada’s next prime minister will not be able to ignore the biodiversity crisis. Unnatural disasters like storms, wildfire, and floods are wreaking havoc across Canada’s most beautiful and bountiful landscapes and we need action to protect and restore nature now. Nature is part of what makes Canada strong and free – our leaders must rise to the challenge.

    Jessica Clogg, Executive Director & Senior Counsel, West Coast Environmental Law said:  “This election, we need all parties to recognize that building a resilient economy and defending our sovereignty must go hand-in-hand with strong laws to safeguard our climate, protect nature and ensure the health and wellbeing of Canadians. Resurrecting costly, risky pipeline projects or rolling back legal protections that keep us safe is not a solution to current economic threats.”

    Sandra Schwartz, National Executive Director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) said: “Nature is not a left or right issue. It’s key to who we are as Canadians, and healthy land, freshwater and ocean are critical to our prosperity and wellbeing. A thriving economy is only possible if we preserve the natural environment that we all rely on. In this time of uncertainty, we are asking the next federal government to ensure that Canada’s nature is effectively protected and funded. Our future depends on it.”

    Dr. Melissa Lem, Board President, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) said: “Climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss are making our patients and communities sick. Good policy can turn this around. Government action to protect the environment and address environmental justice will deliver significant health benefits to people across Canada and provide substantial economic savings.”

    Liz McDowell, Senior Campaigns Director, Stand.earth said: “Voters will head to the polls as communities across the country contend with more extreme weather events and rising economic uncertainty. That’s why political parties must have science-based environmental plans that address the root causes of the cascading crises we face. It’s imperative that Canada’s next Parliament put climate at the top of its agenda – making life affordable, building a more resilient society for all, and confronting the climate emergency are interconnected.”

    Maggy Burns, Executive Director with the Ecology Action Centre said: “The crises that Canada and the world are facing – from climate change and biodiversity loss to the cost of living, polarization and rising authoritarianism – are all deeply connected. We can’t build a sustainable economy or defend our sovereignty by doubling down on dead-end fossil fuels that enrich the wealthy while leaving the rest of us behind. Canadians need political leadership with the courage, clear plans and resolve to respond to the crises we face in a way that prioritizes care for all our communities and the ecosystems that sustain us.”

    Gretchen Fitzgerald, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada said: “A safe future for Canadians means supporting clean energy solutions that benefit communities and building on the progress Canadians have made to reduce climate pollution. This means seizing opportunities like Atlantic offshore wind and supercharging community based clean energy projects and energy efficiency. In order to have thriving communities and healthy children, we need a healthy relationship with nature, and to commit to halt the extinction of species that leave our world less rich and resilient. We encourage voters to see where their candidates stand on these issues, and ensure their vote counts toward protecting the progress we’ve made in reducing climate pollution and protecting clean air, water and land for all.”

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
    Stephanie Kohls, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

     

    The post Enviro Orgs Demand Clarity on Federal Parties’ Environmental Plans Ahead of Election appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Throne Speech Attempts Re-Brand of Failed Housing, Environmental and Energy Policies

    Statement by Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment program manager

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Today’s throne speech was another astounding example of the Ontario government attempting to re-package the same set of counter-productive, environmentally destructive policy concessions to well-connected “friends” as a response to the crisis of the day.

    First we were told they were a response to the COVID pandemic. Then they were presented as a response to the housing shortage: the result is that housing starts are in free-fall, worse than anywhere else in Canada. Now, we’re being told that further weakening flood protections, conservation laws and endangered species safeguards—while subsidizing sprawl, blocking density and spending vast sums of public money on highway projects—will somehow protect us against U.S. aggression.

    The truth is, U.S. economic force and the need for Canada’s urgent decoupling weaken the already shaky case for more sprawl, new fossil gas plants and weaker environmental, health and safety protections.

    Ontario’s radically different—and uncertain—circumstances strengthen the case for a public policy U-turn. Ontario needs law reforms that shift construction and municipal plans away from sprawl to mid-rise, infill family-sized homes that will be reliably viable to build in tough, uncertain times.

    Ontario must focus on made-in-Ontario renewable electricity, instead of relying on U.S. fracked gas and fossil gas plants or costly, slow-to-build nuclear power plants. The commitment to champion pipelines in all directions is laughable, and will do nothing to protect Ontario from U.S. aggression.

    Ontario needs rules that prioritize our food security by protecting what remains of Canada’s best farmland, rather than it for sprawl subdivisions and Amazon warehouses. Ontario must invest in improvements to public transit service and infrastructure that deliver quick results and lower costs for families, rather than expensive, slow-moving highway schemes.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence
    media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post Throne Speech Attempts Re-Brand of Failed Housing, Environmental and Energy Policies appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Groups Call on Peel Council to Oppose Brampton Incinerator Expansion

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Environmental and community groups have sent a letter to Peel Region Council members urging them to pass a motion at today’s council meeting against the proposed expansion of the privately-owned waste incinerator in Brampton. Council is in receipt of a report from the region’s Medical Officer of Health and Commissioner of Health Services that raises concerns about the impacts of an expanded incinerator on the health of people living in the vicinity of the facility, located at 7656 Bramalea Road.

    “Peel Public Health points out that this area of Peel already has significant air pollution and people living there are more likely to suffer from certain health conditions, including diabetes and COPD,” points out Steve Papagiannis of the Brampton Environmental Alliance. “We want Council to join us in telling the provincial government, who is being asked to approve the project, to say no. We should be directing our efforts to eliminate waste, not grow our capacity to burn it.”

    The public health report points out that the community living around the incinerator is more likely to be racialized and lower-income than the overall population of Peel Region. There is a high probability that area residents are unaware of both the proposal itself and the potential impacts on their health.

    “We feel that Emerald’s environmental screening report falls short in many areas related to current air pollution and testing from the existing facility, let alone what we could expect from their projections if the incinerator undergoes a massive expansion,” adds Steve Kirby of the Peel chapter of the Sierra Club. “We’re glad to see that Peel Public Health is calling for more frequent and ongoing monitoring of pollutants in soil, something the company has not done. But monitoring alone won’t protect the community. Pollution from burning waste produces some of the most toxic “forever chemicals” known to science and it’s unfair to expose this already burdened community to even more. The expansion must be denied.”

    Emerald EFW, the company that owns the incinerator, is seeking to expand the facility by nearly five times, to handle 900,000 tonnes of waste per year. The provincial government has not made a decision on the proposal. The groups have asked the provincial government to require a full environmental assessment of the project to allow for more public input and independent scientific expertise, as well as an examination of alternatives to a massive increase in waste burning.

    “Incineration is a terrible answer to Ontario’s waste problem,” says Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager for Plastics at Environmental Defence. “We’re very pleased to see Peel Public Health recommend exploring the benefits of other solutions that serve to reduce the generation of waste in the first place. Waste reduction, reuse, repair, composting and recycling are all much better ways of dealing with the problem.”

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Mira Merchant, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post Groups Call on Peel Council to Oppose Brampton Incinerator Expansion appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Our New Analysis Reveals Fossil Fuel Costs to the Public and Government

    ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, SKEENA WATERSHED CONSERVATION COALITION, WET’SUWET’EN HEREDITARY CHIEF

    Pipeline Push Ignores Fossil Fuel Costs to Public, Government, and Energy Trends

    New analysis from Environmental Defence reveals that in 2024, the Government of Canada provided nearly $30 billion in direct subsidies and public financing to oil and gas companies and projects

    Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – A new analysis released today by Environmental Defence reveals Canada’s federal government provided at least $29.6 billion to the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries in 2024 alone – a massive amount of taxpayer money that went towards making it cheaper to find, extract, process, transport, and export fossil fuels and their derivatives.

    “Oil and gas companies – emboldened by their influence over President Trump – are exploiting the current economic uncertainty to call on governments to double down on fossil fuels by expanding pipelines and other projects and finding new export markets,” said Julia Levin, Associate Director, National Climate. “This push ignores the fact that fossil fuels come at a high price — not just at the pump, but through rising costs of groceries, worsening health outcomes, damage to property and huge government handouts. It also ignores the rapid energy transition towards renewable energy that is happening globally.”

    “Canada is putting billions into oil and gas, knowing that they can’t make a profit”, said Chief Na’Moks, Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief. “The government funding goes straight to the company’s shareholders and wealthy executives, meanwhile, it’s Canadians and the world who pay the high price of living with climate change and disasters funded by Canada.”

    Key findings from the analysis:

    • In 2024, the Government of Canada provided at least $29.6 billion in financial support to fossil fuel and petrochemical companies. That is more than the price of building out interprovincial electricity grid connection infrastructure, which is estimated to cost $24 billion.
    • The largest sources of federal support were $21 billion in financing for the TransMountain pipeline and $7.5 billion in public financing through the crown corporation Export Development Canada, including $700 million for LNG infrastructure.
    • Over the last five years, the estimated total amount of financial support to the oil and gas sector from the federal government was $74.6 billion.
    • While oil and gas companies continue generating significant revenues, they are not investing these into addressing their ever-increasing pollution levels. In 2024, four of Canada’s largest oilsands producers (Cenovus, Imperial Oil, CNRL, and Suncor) earned more than $20 billion in profits. They reported nearly $30 billion in combined capital expenditures to continue growing oil and gas production, yet none of the companies reported investments in emissions reductions or climate initiatives as part of their capital spending.
    • The climate pollution created by oil and gas companies has massive costs, including health costs, property damage from extreme weather events, and decreased agricultural productivity due to changing weather patterns. In 2024, the pollution from oil and gas companies operating in Canada was an estimated $53 billion. 

    According to Gwii Lok’im Gibuu / Jesse Stoeppler, Co-Executive Director at the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, “the majority of financial support has gone to an outdated, decades-old fossil fuel pipeline project. The LNG industry, in particular, is so drawn to this country because government after government continues to socialize the costs while privatizing the profits.”

    “This is Canada’s time to forge our own future based on our own values,” said Levin. “By scaling up renewable energy projects and building our national electricity grid, we could put thousands of Canadians to work, build our energy security and provide affordable energy for all. Canadians should be very wary of calls for new pipelines: it’s taxpayers who end up paying the price for new fossil fuel infrastructure as foreign-owned companies and wealthy shareholders reap the rewards.”

    Read the full analysis here.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Midhat Moini, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    Jen Wickham, Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief, yintahaccess@gmail.com

    Stephanie O’Neill, Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, stephanie@skeenawatershed.com

     

     

    The post Our New Analysis Reveals Fossil Fuel Costs to the Public and Government appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • U.S. Designation of Canada’s “Zero Plastic Waste Agenda” as a Barrier to Trade

    Statement by Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager, Plastics

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – It is appalling that the latest report from the U.S. government on trade barriers points the finger at the Canadian government’s action on plastic pollution. The entry on plastics reads like talking points from the plastics and petrochemical industry that has long opposed action on plastic pollution in the U.S. and elsewhere, including Canada.

    Canada is absolutely right to tackle the causes of plastic pollution, including restricting harmful, unnecessary plastic items that are often used for a short time, but persist in the environment and cause harm to animals and the places they live. What’s more, medical researchers are finding plastic particles everywhere they look in the human body, including the brain and other vital organs. We are literally eating, drinking and breathing in plastic without understanding the full impact on our health.

    Polling consistently reflects strong support for action on plastics among people who live in Canada. The trade war with the United States has underscored the need to support Canadian-made  products. Tackling plastic pollution must be integral to Canada’s response. Protecting and enhancing the single-use plastics bans while supporting convenient and affordable reuse and refill systems can help reduce reliance on U.S.-sourced single-use packaging and shield Canadian food growers and producers from price volatility, all while eliminating waste and pollution.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Mira Merchant, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post U.S. Designation of Canada’s “Zero Plastic Waste Agenda” as a Barrier to Trade appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • STATEMENT: Killing TIER would be an economic mistake 

    Pumps being oil or gas to the surface in Albera. The landscape includes many of these mechanical beasts on the praires.

    Stephen Legault, Senior Manager for Alberta Energy Transition reaction to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s indication that her government will scrap The Alberta Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction regulation 

    Canmore | Traditional territories of the Treaty 7 Nations – In what appears to be a case of “follow the leader”, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is mimicking federal Conservative leader Pierre Pollievere’s direction and proposing to scrap the province’s successful industrial carbon emissions reduction program. According to reporting in the Narwhal, Alberta is considering killing The Alberta Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction regulation (TIER program) and replacing it with a scheme that allows major industrial polluters to directly invest in unproven technology such as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). 

    In place since 2020, the TIER program was implemented by former Conservative Premier Jason Kenney as a response to the federal government’s carbon backstop legislation. The current program offers heavy industrial carbon emitters a choice of ways to reduce GHG emissions that simultaneously save them money while investing in clean energy technology. 

    TIER has been a successful component of the province’s otherwise lacklustre performance on reducing green house gas emissions. Scrapping this program aligns Alberta with efforts in the United States where President Donald Trump is killing programs that support clean energy development. 

    Instead of gutting climate policy, Alberta should be assessing where future markets for clean, renewable energy will be, and strengthening our commitment to carbon reduction to access those markets. Environmental Defence strongly urges the Alberta government to leave the TIER program in place, and to build on its success to support an energy transition strategy that aligns with the worldwide trend towards a clean economy. 

    Background:

    • According to the Government of Alberta, “The TIER system implements Alberta’s industrial carbon pricing and emissions trading system. TIER helps industrial facilities find innovative ways to reduce emissions and invest in clean technology to stay competitive and save money.”
    • Alberta was one of the first jurisdictions to have an industrial carbon pricing system. The province introduced the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER) in 2007 to price carbon pollution from large emitters in the province and use the resulting revenue for investments in low-carbon technology.
    • According to research from the Canadian Climate Institute, Industrial carbon pricing is one of the most effective ways to reduce green house gas emissions. “By 2030, industrial carbon pricing (which includes various types of large-emitter trading systems) is projected to contribute between 23 and 39 per cent (or 53 to 90 Mt) of avoided emissions from all policies implemented to date. And between now and 2030, these large-emitter trading systems—such as Ontario’s emissions performance standard or Alberta’s TIER system—will do more than any other policy to cut emissions, delivering between 20 and 48 per cent of emissions reductions expected from Canada’s Emissions Reductions Plan moving forward.”

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Alex Ross, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post STATEMENT: Killing TIER would be an economic mistake  appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • STATEMENT: City of Toronto Passes Motion Advancing Climate-Aligned Finance

    Statement by Alex Walker, Program Manager, Climate Finance

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – We applaud the City of Toronto Council for passing a motion advancing climate-aligned finance in the city.  We are very pleased to see leadership on sustainable finance from Councillor Paula Fletcher and Councillor Dianne Saxe.

    According to a recent report from the University of Toronto Climate Observatory, Bay Street financial institutions financed 1.44 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2022. These emissions are driving climate disasters globally, and Toronto is already paying the cost. Flooding in July 2024 cost almost $1 billion in insured damages.

    The current moment is a pivotal one for sustainable finance in Canada. As many of our major financial institutions turn their backs on sustainable finance initiatives, the City of Toronto has the opportunity to take a vital leadership role. Toronto’s Bay Street is home to most of the country’s biggest financial institutions, collectively managing trillions of dollars in assets. The financing decisions made on Bay Street have an outsized impact on Canada’s economy, and therefore on the country’s progress on climate. Ensuring that these decisions focus on building a sustainable and secure economy, not financing more pollution, is vital for Canada.

    We would like to congratulate the City Council for their work in moving this forward.

    Background Information:

    • 2025.MM28.37 was adopted on Thursday March 27th 2025
    • This motion would establish Toronto as a Sustainable Finance Hub, require the city to commission a report on best practices from peer cities on partnering with the financial sector on climate mitigation, and require the city to encourage federal and provincial regulators to set ambitious climate-aligned financial regulations.
    • Letter to Toronto City Council from Environmental Defence in support of the motion  

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Alex Ross, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca        

    The post STATEMENT: City of Toronto Passes Motion Advancing Climate-Aligned Finance appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • STATEMENT: Canada’s GHG Emissions Are Improving, But Oil & Gas Hold Us Back

    Statement by Aly Hyder Ali, Program Manager, Oil and Gas

    Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – A new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions analysis from the Government of Canada delivers a clear message: climate action is paying off. Over the last decade, emissions intensity has dropped by 34 per cent, methane pollution has fallen by a third, and our electricity grid is getting cleaner – all the while, the economy has grown – proving that smart climate policies can drive real results.

    While the progress over the last decade should be applauded, there is still a long way to go. The oil and gas industry, which accounts for nearly a third of Canada’s GHG emissions, remains the largest source of pollution in the country. Increases in emissions from oil and gas production are offsetting gains made in most other sectors of the economy. It’s clear that Canada needs strong rules to cap and cut pollution from the oil and gas industry to ensure they do their fair share.

    Oil and gas companies have shown us that they are unwilling to reduce their own emissions without regulatory enforcement. Yet, some Canadian politicians want to take a page directly from Trump’s playbook and roll back key climate policies.

    Canadians across the country are worried about their futures in these uncertain times. We need leaders who will work towards building a stable future, not keeping us locked into an outdated fossil fuel industry.

    Now is the time to double down on climate action and economic security by increasing investments in renewable energy, accelerating emissions reductions and ensuring oil and gas companies are doing their fair share. We’ve come too far to turn back now.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Midhat Moini, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post STATEMENT: Canada’s GHG Emissions Are Improving, But Oil & Gas Hold Us Back appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • STATEMENT: Oil and Gas Companies Want to Gut Canada’s Hard-Fought Climate Progress

    Statement from Julia Levin, Associate Director, National Climate

    Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – Canadians have fought for two decades to make our country safer in the face of climate change. We’re seeing the results. For the first time ever, Canada’s emissions are going down while clean investments and renewable energy jobs are growing.

    Oil and gas companies want to take a page from the Trump playbook and gut all of the progress that Canadians have made. In a letter sent yesterday to leaders of Canada’s political parties, 14 CEOs of some of the wealthiest oil and gas companies operating in Canada shared their plan to destroy Canada’s climate progress and put the places and people we love at risk.

    We’ve seen this tactic before, for example, in the industry’s secret response to the devastating COVID pandemic. The oil and gas industry never lets a crisis go to waste, seizing every opportunity to push the same tired rhetoric we always hear from oil and gas companies and their political mouthpieces: expand fossil fuels and pipelines, scrap any rules limiting pollution, eliminate any form of environmental assessments and provide more taxpayer handouts.

    Of course, none of these things would help with the current situation. That shouldn’t surprise us. Oil and gas companies don’t have the best interests of Canadians – or other parts of the Canadian economy – at heart. Why would they? According to recent data, more than 70 per cent of oilsand production in Canada is owned by foreign – mostly American – shareholders. For decades, these companies have stood in the way of climate progress – while their pollution continues to skyrocket.

    This is Canada’s time to forge our own future based on our own values. We can grow our independence, bring Canadian innovation to the world, and expand our trading partners by investing in new infrastructure and industries, including low-carbon steel and aluminium (which we are uniquely positioned to produce), clean electricity, food, aerospace products, public transit, and more. We have the skills, people, and resources to lead the clean energy revolution.

    We can’t allow oil and gas companies to put Canada’s hard-fought, years-long climate progress at risk to benefit their wealthy CEOs and American shareholders while at the same time failing to acknowledge that the world’s energy future will be clean.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Midhat Moini, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post STATEMENT: Oil and Gas Companies Want to Gut Canada’s Hard-Fought Climate Progress appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • STATEMENT: Industry Recommendations Shift Onus for Well Cleanup to the Taxpayer

    Stephen Legault, Senior Manager, Alberta Energy Transition response to a report made public in the Globe and Mail concerning a government report that proposes the Alberta public must now assume responsibility for cleaning up “mature” oil and gas wells across the province

    Canmore | Traditional territories of the Treaty 7 Nations – Secretive plans reveal a strategy more damaging to Alberta than the R-Star controversy championed by Premier Danielle Smith when she worked for the oil and gas industry before becoming Premier.

    A secretive group of insiders led by David Yagger, an advisor to both oil and gas businesses and the Premier,  is recommending a transfer of reclamation responsibilities to taxpayers, instead of the industry, who are currently making billions in profits. This is deeply disturbing. The public should not have to be on the hook to clean up the industry’s mess.

    How can Albertans trust the Premier to make decisions in the best interest of the province when she is handing responsibility for the industry over to the industry itself?

    The premier must fire David Yager right now, and come clean with Albertans. The government must toss this report and its ideas in the trash, and hold polluters accountable to clean up after themselves, and to pay their rent and taxes.

    Not only would these recommendations to the Premier and her Cabinet put the fox among the hens, but it would rob the farmer from any meaningful recourse.

    Background: 

    • A leaked copy of the Mature Asset Strategy (MAS) recommends a seachange in how the province manages the required clean up after oil and gas wells have been retired.
    • At present there are currently more than 80,000 aging wells, and more than 100,000 well sites and other petroleum industry assets that  are no longer producing. These sites are a hazard to human, wildlife and livestock heath, as many leak poisonous methane gas that contributes to global climate change.
    • In addition the MAS recommendations include a wide range of oil and gas industry wish list items, including turning a blind eye to the unpaid taxes, green-washing unreclaimed hazardous sites with solar panels, and creating a Joint Industry Closure Initiative would would which would place the industry in charge of setting regulations for their own operations.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Alex Ross, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post STATEMENT: Industry Recommendations Shift Onus for Well Cleanup to the Taxpayer appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Statement in response to attacks on industrial carbon pricing

    Statement from Julia Levin, Associate Director, National Climate, Environmental Defence Canada

    Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People -Canada’s industrial carbon pricing rules mean that big polluters pay for their pollution. It’s a good model: corporations, like oil and gas companies, should be paying for the harm they cause to our air, land and water. And the rules work: they have effectively driven down pollution levels more than any other measure.

    Carbon pricing isn’t just good for addressing pollution, it also incentivizes companies to be more competitive by investing in cleaner technologies. As Canada finds ways to stand up to the United States, it’s important that we increase trade with like-minded allies. The European Union is an obvious partner, but we won’t be able to access their markets without strong environmental rules like industrial carbon pricing.

    Any political leader who is threatening to do away with these rules is catering to corporate interests over the public good. We only have to look south of the border to see how dangerous that approach is.

    Abandoning climate action, as Trump has done and some Canadian politicians are now threatening to do, puts Canada’s health, economy and national unity at risk. Increased pollution and unnatural weather threaten the places and people we love. Staying committed to proven climate strategies will protect Canadians and keep Canada strong and free.

    Background Information:

    • According to the Canadian Climate Institute, industrial carbon pricing will do more to cut climate pollution between now and 2030 than any other policy. By 2030, industrial carbon pricing is projected to contribute between 23 and 39 per cent (or 53 to 90 Mt) of avoided emissions from all policies implemented to date.
    • The European Union is implementing a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). This measure forces importing companies to purchase to pay the difference between the carbon price in the country of production and the EU’s carbon price.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Alex Ross, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post Statement in response to attacks on industrial carbon pricing appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • MEDIA ADVISORY: Tomorrow – Environmental Defence Hosts a Screening of Killer Water

    The Screening Features the Documentary’s Co-Director, Acclaimed Indigenous Journalist Brandi Morin

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Tomorrow, Wednesday March 12, 2025, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Environmental Defence will host a screening of the documentary Killer Water at Innis College, 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the documentary’s co-director, acclaimed Indigenous journalist Brandi Morin. The screening will be preceded by a reception and an opening by Cathy Walker.

    Killer Water, by award-winning journalist Brandi Morin and filmmaker Geordie Day delves deep into the heart of the environmental crisis that plagues the Alberta oil sands, to uncover hidden truths that have long been ignored. Through stunning visuals and powerful narratives, Morin and Day take viewers on a journey through Fort Chipewyan that highlights the injustices faced by the Indigenous community living in the shadow of this industrial development.

    WHAT: Killer Water Documentary Reception, Screening and Discussion

    WHERE: Innis College, 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto

    WHEN: Wednesday March 12, 2025. Reception 6:30 pm, Opening by Cathy Walker, 7:30 pm, Screening 7:45 pm, Discussion 8:45 pm

    WHO: Brandi Morin, award-winning Indigenous journalist and co-director of Killer Water

    Aliénor Rougeot, Senior Program Manager, Climate and Energy, Environmental Defence

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Allen Braude, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

     

    The post MEDIA ADVISORY: Tomorrow – Environmental Defence Hosts a Screening of Killer Water appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Environmental and Health Groups Welcome “Toxic” Designation of Forever Chemicals

    ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, ECOJUSTICE, DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION, CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICIANS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, AND BREAST CANCER ACTION QUEBEC

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – A coalition of environmental, health and justice groups, Ecojustice, Environmental Defence, David Suzuki Foundation, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, and Breast Cancer Action Quebec, have welcomed an important first step in tackling the threats posed by forever chemicals in the federal government’s proposed class listing order of PFAS.

    Today, the federal government published the Final State of PFAS Report under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). The report concluded that PFAS meets the criteria to be designated as ‘toxic’ under CEPA. A proposed order to add PFAS as a class of toxic substances to Schedule 1 of CEPA was published for public comment.

    The government also announced a phased approach to managing the risks of PFAS that will include prohibitions, starting with firefighting foams, followed by consumer products such as cosmetics, food packaging, and textiles, including firefighting turnout gear, and later industrial, medical and transport uses and fluorinated gases.

    Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, are a range of synthetic chemicals that are highly persistent in the environment, meaning they can accumulate in our bodies and environment over time.

    PFAS harm our health, and have been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancers, such as testicular, breast and thyroid cancer, liver damage, low infant birth weight, immune system impairment, infertility, endometriosis and asthma.

    Consumer products, including cookware, cosmetics, and food packaging are a significant source of PFAS exposure for most people.

    There are thousands of PFAS. That is why it is crucial that the federal government list and regulate PFAS as a class of toxic substances to keep people in Canada safe. This approach is scientifically warranted due to the many shared properties of PFAS, and will enable a much-needed comprehensive approach to risk management.

    The PFAS class proposed for listing excludes fluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), also known commercially as Teflon. The scope of the PFAS class was reduced by the federal government in 2024 under industry pressure. The government plans to assess fluoropolymers separately.

    Other jurisdictions, such as France, the EU and more than 30 US states, are leading the way with policies and regulations that restrict and prohibit the use of PFAS. At a time when Canada is seeking new trade partners, it is important that it adopts strong environmental and health regulations to meet international standards.

    Industry should support this streamlined regulatory approach as there is no realistic alternative to addressing the real and ever-present hazards from PFAS. Assessing PFAS on a case-by-case basis is not practical or realistic due to the sheer volume of chemicals and may result in one harmful, banned PFAS being swapped out for another harmful, but not yet banned PFAS.

    Environmental and health groups welcome the work done so far by the federal government to get the regulatory process to this point, but urge a final order to list PFAS as toxic under CEPA as soon as possible to provide the government with greater ability to regulate these highly hazardous chemicals.

    Cassie Barker, Senior Program Manager for Toxics at Environmental Defence: 

    “Today’s announcement is a critical first step in Canada’s fight for freedom from toxic PFAS. Industry has known for decades that these “forever chemicals” harm people and communities, but instead of phasing out these cancer-linked, hormone disrupting chemicals, they’ve continued to rake in record profits at the expense of our health. Canada must move quickly to kick PFAS to the curb, including regulations that restrict PFAS in everyday products.”

    Elaine MacDonald, Healthy Communities Director at Ecojustice:

    “As these forever chemicals continue to compound in our bodies and the environment, the urgency of the PFAS crisis continues to intensify. While today’s announcement is an important milestone, critical work to address PFAS pollution remains. With a federal election looming ahead, we cannot afford to lose momentum. The next steps are to finalize the order listing PFAS as a class of toxic substances under CEPA and then get busy banning and restricting uses of these persistent pollutants. Canada needs to catch up to more progressive jurisdictions like France, especially if it wants to diversify trade in response to US tariffs.”

    Dr. Lyndia Dernis, MD, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE):

    “We are witnessing the early stages of a public health emergency in Canada and around the globe. PFAS “forever chemicals” are now ubiquitous, and their severe, long-term health consequences could impact generations to come. As a physician, I applaud the measures taken today and I look forward to continued action on PFAS. People deserve a future in which they don’t need to worry that the foods they eat, the clothing they wear, the water they drink, and their experiences in the healthcare system are unnecessarily exposing them to these dangerous chemicals.”

    Milena Gioia, Coordinator, Popular Education and Advocacy at Breast Cancer Action Québec:

    “Toxic substances like PFAS pose a serious threat to our health, linked to hormone-related cancers, infertility, complications in pregnancy and fetal development, and endometriosis to name a few. While we commend the government’s first step in regulating PFAS, we will remain vigilant to ensure concrete actions are taken to protect the Canadian population from these ‘forever’ chemicals. The French government’s ambitious PFAS regulation sets a valuable example, and we hope Canada will quickly follow suit to strengthen its regulations and safeguard public health.”

    Sabaa Khan, Climate Director, David Suzuki Foundation:

    “Canada is proposing to declare PFAS as toxic – a long overdue designation that will make it possible to regulate this class of toxic chemicals and make sure we do not fall behind other jurisdictions in addressing this public health risk. Even though studies dating as far back as the 1960s found these substances to be harmful, phased-out substances were often replaced with other synthetic chemicals that pose similar risks to human and environmental health.

    “Like other persistent organic pollutants, PFAS accumulate in the Arctic region, causing disproportionate toxic harm to communities far removed from their production and consumption chains. This new designation of PFAS as a class will enhance the effectiveness of chemical risk governance, which has proven to be unable to keep up with the speed at which new substances are being introduced to the market.”

    Click here to read our backgrounder for more information

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    The David Suzuki Foundation works through science and education to protect the diversity of nature and our quality of life now, and for the future.

    Breast Cancer Action Quebec (BCAQ) is a feminist advocacy organization focused on breast cancer prevention and environmental health. Through education and policy action, BCAQ challenges toxic exposures and health injustices to drive systemic change. Learn more at www.acsqc.ca.

    Ecojustice uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for a healthy environment. Its strategic, public interest lawsuits and advocacy lead to precedent-setting court decisions and law and policy that deliver lasting solutions to Canada’s most urgent environmental problems. As Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice operates offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax.

    The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) is a physician-directed non-profit organization working to secure human health by protecting the planet. Since its founding in 1994, CAPE’s work has achieved substantial policy victories in collaboration with many partners in the environmental and health movements. From coast to coast to coast, the organization operates throughout the country with regional committees active in most provinces and all territories.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Lauren Thomas, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    Naoual Laaroussi, Breast Cancer Action Quebec, naoual.laaroussi@acsqc.ca

    Reykia Fick, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, media@cape.ca

    Melanie Karalis, David Suzuki Foundation, mkaralis@davidsuzuki.org

    Zoryana Cherwick, Ecojustice,  zcherwick@ecojustice.ca

    The post Environmental and Health Groups Welcome “Toxic” Designation of Forever Chemicals appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Environmental and Health Groups Welcome “Toxic” Designation of Forever Chemicals

    ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, ECOJUSTICE, DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION, CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICIANS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, AND BREAST CANCER ACTION QUEBEC

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – A coalition of environmental, health and justice groups, Ecojustice, Environmental Defence, David Suzuki Foundation, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, and Breast Cancer Action Quebec, have welcomed an important first step in tackling the threats posed by forever chemicals in the federal government’s proposed class listing order of PFAS.

    Today, the federal government published the Final State of PFAS Report under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). The report concluded that PFAS meets the criteria to be designated as ‘toxic’ under CEPA. A proposed order to add PFAS as a class of toxic substances to Schedule 1 of CEPA was published for public comment.

    The government also announced a phased approach to managing the risks of PFAS that will include prohibitions, starting with firefighting foams, followed by consumer products such as cosmetics, food packaging, and textiles, including firefighting turnout gear, and later industrial, medical and transport uses and fluorinated gases.

    Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, are a range of synthetic chemicals that are highly persistent in the environment, meaning they can accumulate in our bodies and environment over time.

    PFAS harm our health, and have been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancers, such as testicular, breast and thyroid cancer, liver damage, low infant birth weight, immune system impairment, infertility, endometriosis and asthma.

    Consumer products, including cookware, cosmetics, and food packaging are a significant source of PFAS exposure for most people.

    There are thousands of PFAS. That is why it is crucial that the federal government list and regulate PFAS as a class of toxic substances to keep people in Canada safe. This approach is scientifically warranted due to the many shared properties of PFAS, and will enable a much-needed comprehensive approach to risk management.

    The PFAS class proposed for listing excludes fluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), also known commercially as Teflon. The scope of the PFAS class was reduced by the federal government in 2024 under industry pressure. The government plans to assess fluoropolymers separately.

    Other jurisdictions, such as France, the EU and more than 30 US states, are leading the way with policies and regulations that restrict and prohibit the use of PFAS. At a time when Canada is seeking new trade partners, it is important that it adopts strong environmental and health regulations to meet international standards.

    Industry should support this streamlined regulatory approach as there is no realistic alternative to addressing the real and ever-present hazards from PFAS. Assessing PFAS on a case-by-case basis is not practical or realistic due to the sheer volume of chemicals and may result in one harmful, banned PFAS being swapped out for another harmful, but not yet banned PFAS.

    Environmental and health groups welcome the work done so far by the federal government to get the regulatory process to this point, but urge a final order to list PFAS as toxic under CEPA as soon as possible to provide the government with greater ability to regulate these highly hazardous chemicals.

    Cassie Barker, Senior Program Manager for Toxics at Environmental Defence: 

    “Today’s announcement is a critical first step in Canada’s fight for freedom from toxic PFAS. Industry has known for decades that these “forever chemicals” harm people and communities, but instead of phasing out these cancer-linked, hormone disrupting chemicals, they’ve continued to rake in record profits at the expense of our health. Canada must move quickly to kick PFAS to the curb, including regulations that restrict PFAS in everyday products.”

    Elaine MacDonald, Healthy Communities Director at Ecojustice:

    “As these forever chemicals continue to compound in our bodies and the environment, the urgency of the PFAS crisis continues to intensify. While today’s announcement is an important milestone, critical work to address PFAS pollution remains. With a federal election looming ahead, we cannot afford to lose momentum. The next steps are to finalize the order listing PFAS as a class of toxic substances under CEPA and then get busy banning and restricting uses of these persistent pollutants. Canada needs to catch up to more progressive jurisdictions like France, especially if it wants to diversify trade in response to US tariffs.”

    Dr. Lyndia Dernis, MD, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE):

    “We are witnessing the early stages of a public health emergency in Canada and around the globe. PFAS “forever chemicals” are now ubiquitous, and their severe, long-term health consequences could impact generations to come. As a physician, I applaud the measures taken today and I look forward to continued action on PFAS. People deserve a future in which they don’t need to worry that the foods they eat, the clothing they wear, the water they drink, and their experiences in the healthcare system are unnecessarily exposing them to these dangerous chemicals.”

    Milena Gioia, Coordinator, Popular Education and Advocacy at Breast Cancer Action Québec:

    “Toxic substances like PFAS pose a serious threat to our health, linked to hormone-related cancers, infertility, complications in pregnancy and fetal development, and endometriosis to name a few. While we commend the government’s first step in regulating PFAS, we will remain vigilant to ensure concrete actions are taken to protect the Canadian population from these ‘forever’ chemicals. The French government’s ambitious PFAS regulation sets a valuable example, and we hope Canada will quickly follow suit to strengthen its regulations and safeguard public health.”

    Sabaa Khan, Climate Director, David Suzuki Foundation:

    “Canada is proposing to declare PFAS as toxic – a long overdue designation that will make it possible to regulate this class of toxic chemicals and make sure we do not fall behind other jurisdictions in addressing this public health risk. Even though studies dating as far back as the 1960s found these substances to be harmful, phased-out substances were often replaced with other synthetic chemicals that pose similar risks to human and environmental health.

    “Like other persistent organic pollutants, PFAS accumulate in the Arctic region, causing disproportionate toxic harm to communities far removed from their production and consumption chains. This new designation of PFAS as a class will enhance the effectiveness of chemical risk governance, which has proven to be unable to keep up with the speed at which new substances are being introduced to the market.”

    Click here to read our backgrounder for more information

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    The David Suzuki Foundation works through science and education to protect the diversity of nature and our quality of life now, and for the future.

    Breast Cancer Action Quebec (BCAQ) is a feminist advocacy organization focused on breast cancer prevention and environmental health. Through education and policy action, BCAQ challenges toxic exposures and health injustices to drive systemic change. Learn more at www.acsqc.ca.

    Ecojustice uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for a healthy environment. Its strategic, public interest lawsuits and advocacy lead to precedent-setting court decisions and law and policy that deliver lasting solutions to Canada’s most urgent environmental problems. As Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice operates offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax.

    The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) is a physician-directed non-profit organization working to secure human health by protecting the planet. Since its founding in 1994, CAPE’s work has achieved substantial policy victories in collaboration with many partners in the environmental and health movements. From coast to coast to coast, the organization operates throughout the country with regional committees active in most provinces and all territories.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Lauren Thomas, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    Naoual Laaroussi, Breast Cancer Action Quebec, naoual.laaroussi@acsqc.ca

    Reykia Fick, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, media@cape.ca

    Melanie Karalis, David Suzuki Foundation, mkaralis@davidsuzuki.org

    Zoryana Cherwick, Ecojustice,  zcherwick@ecojustice.ca

    The post Environmental and Health Groups Welcome “Toxic” Designation of Forever Chemicals appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • New Report Exposes Big Oil’s Relentless Lobbying in 2024

    Environmental Defence’s report finds that fossil fuel lobbyists met with federal government officials 1,135 times in 2024. 

    Montréal/Tiohtià:ke | Traditional, unceded lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka/Mohawk Nation, a gathering place for many First Nations, including the Anishinaabeg – Today, Environmental Defence released its annual report evaluating lobbying by the fossil fuel industry, Big Oil’s Lobbying Playbook: A Summary of the Fossil Fuel Industry’s 2024 Federal Lobbying. In 2024, fossil fuel companies and industry associations had at least 1,135 lobby meetings with the federal government. Lobbyists heavily targeted ministries responsible for environmental and climate policy, and the Privy Council Office, as well as the former finance minister and Members of Parliament from the Official Opposition.

    “Big Oil relies on lobbying because it works –they use it to weaken climate policies and dodge accountability,” said Emilia Belliveau, Energy Transition Program Manager at Environmental Defence. “In 2024, Big Oil made it clear they oppose climate rules that curb pollution or prevent greenwashing. As fossil fuel interests exploit the situation in the U.S., Canada must resist similar rollbacks. This report shows how they’re using the same playbook here –lobbying behind closed doors to put corporate profits over climate action.”

    The report compiles data from the federal Registry of Lobbyists, tracking lobbying activity from 35 fossil fuel companies and industry associations. It highlights the most active fossil fuel industry lobbyists, and the Members of Parliament, ministries and ministers they targeted.

    Some of the key takeaways from the report include:

    • Fossil fuel companies and their main industry associations had at least 1135 meetings with the federal government in 2024. That means Big Oil lobbied Parliament more than four times per working day.
    • Enbridge and Suncor did the most lobbying in the industry in 2024. Enbridge, the largest distributor of “natural” fossil gas in North America, lobbied the federal government 106 times. Suncor, one of the major tar sands producers in Canada, lobbied 94 times.
    • Pathways Alliance and its members lobbied the government more than any other oil and gas group. In total, they held at least 356 meetings, including both individual company lobbying and meetings by the Alliance.
    • The federal ministries most frequently targeted by lobbyists were Natural Resources Canada (250 meetings), Environment and Climate Change Canada (168 meetings), the Privy Council Office (143 meetings) and Finance Canada (109 meetings).
    • The ministers most lobbied were former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland (19 meetings) and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson (15 meetings).
    • Oil and gas companies and industry associations lobbied Members of Parliament (MPs) 311 times. Conservative Party MPs took 216 lobby meetings. Liberal Ministers took 62 meetings and Liberal MPs took 29 lobby meetings. The Conservative Party had more than twice as many lobby meetings as the governing Liberal Party when including meetings with Ministers, and seven times as many when considering just MPs. The NDP took four. Green Party and Bloc Québécois MPs did not meet with the oil and gas lobby.

    These figures do not capture the entire extent of the industry’s access, given that the data only includes lobbyist-initiated meetings, not those arranged by the government.

    “Canadians are deeply concerned about climate change. We deserve a government that takes the threat of the climate crisis seriously and acts with integrity and urgency to address it,” said Belliveau, “Fossil fuel companies are using this political moment, and the influence they’ve gained in the U.S., to reverse years of progress on climate issues. They are going after policies designed to protect the people and places we love from extreme climate impacts. The next federal government must put people first and make corporate polluters pay.”

    With an election looming, Environmental Defence calls on Ministers and MPs to stop accepting meetings with fossil fuel industry lobbyists.

    Background Information

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Midhat Moini, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

     

    The post New Report Exposes Big Oil’s Relentless Lobbying in 2024 appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Statement: Alberta’s Budget 2025 Shows a Lack of Leadership that Threatens the Province’s Energy Industry Future

    Pumps being oil or gas to the surface in Albera. The landscape includes many of these mechanical beasts on the praires.

    Statement by Stephen Legault, Senior Manager, Alberta Energy Transition

    The Alberta government’s 2025 budget threatens the future economic prosperity of the province by failing to take action to transition from a fossil fuel based economy to a renewable energy economy. 

    According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) 2024 Oil Futures report, demand will plateau within the next two to three years, and by 2030 the world will need 1,000,000 barrels a day less oil each year as countries move forward with net-zero commitments. 

    That sea change will happen during the next term of government. This is not some future scenario dreamed up by science fiction writers. This is a near-term forecast by the most credible energy insiders in the world. 

    The IEA also predicts a glut of oil on the market, with a projected oversupply of eight million barrels a day  by 2030. A combination of declining markets and over supply could lead to a collapse of the price of oil. 

    By failing to reverse its punitive stance on renewable energy, invest in electrification infrastructure, and urgently diversify its revenue expectations, Alberta is condemning its energy industry to play second fiddle to jurisdictions transitioning to renewable energy, while countries like Norway, the UK, and Germany take the lead on energy transition.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Alex Ross, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post Statement: Alberta’s Budget 2025 Shows a Lack of Leadership that Threatens the Province’s Energy Industry Future appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Statement: France Leads the Way on Turning off the Tap on PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

    Statement from Cassie Barker, Senior Program Manager for Toxics

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – We applaud the French parliament today on its groundbreaking decision to limit the production of toxic PFAS chemicals, and restrict some products that contain PFAS from the French marketplace. Canada must follow suit not only to better protect us from PFAS-related harms and diseases, but also to lower trade barriers with the EU.

    With looming US tariffs, we may soon need to access new markets for Canadian products. To do so, we will need to comply with the stronger environmental and consumer protection laws in the EU.

    The chemicals and plastics industry continues to put PFAS in products and in our environment — placing corporate profits over the protection of our food systems, drinking water, and health. Governments must stand up for stronger toxics laws and champion industry-reforming regulations by restricting the class of PFAS, which includes known cancer-linked and hormone disrupting chemicals.

    Background: 

    • PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of thousands of chemicals used in products for their waterproof, stainproof and nonstick traits, and in manufacturing sectors such as metal plating, pulp and paper, and oil and gas fracking, These substances persist in the environment, are carcinogenic and endocrine-disruptors, and have been estimated to cost a northern nation such as Canada up to $9 billion in health care costs: https://environmentaldefence.ca/report/pfas/
    • Today, the French parliament voted in favour of restricting PFAS. The adopted bill requires President Macron’s signature to become law: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250220-france-parliament-votes-limit-use-man-made-forever-chemicals-pfas
    • Canada’s weaker environmental and consumer protection standards named by EU member states as a barrier to trade agreement ratification: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-paris-brussels-trump-uncertainty-1.7452693
    • PFAS manufacturers have been lobbying the European Union to undermine restrictions on these highly toxic substances: https://foreverpollution.eu/lobbying/
    • Canada has spent the past four years assessing the class of PFAS. Environmentalists, Northern Indigenous peoples and firefighters are anxiously awaiting a finalized State of PFAS report and Order in Council to list the class as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).
    • Last week, the EU finalized a plastic packaging regulation that restricts PFAS: https://foodpackagingforum.org/news/european-council-adopts-final-provisions-of-ppwr
    • PFAS is one of several toxic substances found to be impacting children’s health, and last month researchers stated that “chemicals and plastics is a major planetary challenge that is worsening rapidly,” and that this “endangers the world’s children and threatens humanity’s capacity for reproduction. Inaction on chemicals is no longer an option.”
    • Last year, Environmental Defence identified several harmful chemicals in children’s products, including highly toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” coatings on children’s winter gloves.
    • Polling shows that 4 out of 5 people living in Canada want action on PFAS, and are concerned about the health and environmental impacts of this toxic class of chemicals.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Lauren Thomas, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post Statement: France Leads the Way on Turning off the Tap on PFAS “Forever Chemicals” appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Appointing an Oil Executive as New CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator Shatters Any Hope for a Fair and Effective Oversight of the Industry

     

    ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, KEEPERS OF THE WATER, ALBERTA WILDRNESS ASSOCIATION

    Joint statement on the appointment of Rob Morgan as CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator

    Treaty 8 Territory | Alberta – The appointment of Rob Morgan, former CEO of Strathcona Resources, as the new head of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), completely undermines the credibility of Alberta’s regulatory body tasked with protecting our lands, waters, and communities from the harms of fossil fuel extraction. The regulator can only be effective if it is independent from the industries it oversees. 

    “Placing a former oil executive in charge of regulating the oil and gas industry is like asking the fox to guard the henhouse – an illusion of oversight designed to pacify the public while industry continues unchecked,”  said Gerry Cheezie of Keepers of the Water Board.

    The AER has consistently failed to fulfill its mandate to ensure safe, environmentally responsible energy development. Recent research shows that 97% of tailings spills between 2014-2023 went uninspected, despite AER claims of routine inspections. The AER’s lack of transparency, minimal accountability, and preferential treatment of the oil and gas industry have allowed operators like Imperial Oil and Suncor to avoid meaningful consequences for the environmental harm they caused. Additionally, the AER has refused to investigate the risks of major projects like the Pathways Alliance’s carbon capture plan, undermining public trust, while endangering ecosystems and Indigenous communities. 

    This disappointing appointment was however predictable given that the CEO is selected by the AER’s board of directors, all of whom have worked in the oil and gas industry. At the same time, Alberta’s Premier has stated her desire to increase Alberta’s oil and gas production, despite growing evidence that Alberta’s watersheds are suffering from the cumulative impacts of industrial pollution and climate change. 

    “Appointing the former CEO of an oil and gas company to the head role at Alberta’s energy regulator should be seen as an obvious conflict of interest,” said Phillip Meintzer, conservation specialist with Alberta Wilderness Association. “This appointment demonstrates that oil and gas companies are being handed more control over the institutions meant to hold them accountable – a clear example of a captured regulator.”

    “The AER has repeatedly failed to act in the public interest, ignoring tailings pond leaks, orphaned wells, and water security concerns,” added Aliénor Rougeot, Senior Program Manager at Environmental Defence, “Rob Morgan’s appointment only adds insult to injury, and is a slap in the face for all those who have been harmed by the fossil fuel industry’s pollution.” 

    The groups call on all Albertans to reject this appointment and demand true environmental oversight that protects water, land, and communities. 

    – 30 –

    For media inquiries, please contact: 

    Jesse Cardinal, Executive Director, Keepers of the Water, ed@keepersofthewater.ca 

    Allen Braude, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    Phillip Meintzer, Conservation Specialist, Alberta Wilderness Association, pmeintzer@abwild.ca

     

    The post Appointing an Oil Executive as New CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator Shatters Any Hope for a Fair and Effective Oversight of the Industry appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Environmental Defence Sponsors Olympic Athlete to Raise Attention to the Oil and Gas Industry’s Blatant Greenwashing of Sports 

    EDC exposes sportswashing on CDN Bobsled

    Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – Bobsled fans watching Team Canada compete at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation World Cup in Norway today may have noticed something unusual.

    EDC exposes sportswashing on CDN Bobsled
    Credit: GDF Media / Gisle Johnsen

    Environmental Defence Canada sponsored one of the Canadian athletes competing in Norway, Jay Dearborn, to draw attention to sponsorship by oil and gas companies. Bobsleigh Canada is sponsored by Athabasca Oil Corporation as well as Canada Action. This is part of a global trend of oil and gas companies sponsoring athletes, or sportswashing. Sportswashing refers to when companies use the immense popularity of sports to redirect public attention away from their unethical conduct. This includes sponsoring sports teams and athletes in an attempt to improve their image, particularly in the face of growing calls for climate action.

    “The fossil fuel industry has known that its products are fueling the climate crisis for decades. These companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising every year to hide their impacts and make sure their brands are socially accepted,” said Julia Levin, Associate Director, Environmental Defence. “The logic is the same as other types of greenwashing: sportswashing is an attempt to associate Big Oil’s  brands with something positive to boost their public image and push their agenda.”

    Canada Action is an oil and gas industry advocacy group. Since their launch in 2012, the organisation has dedicated itself to encouraging Canadians to pledge support for the fossil fuel industry. Their greenwashing efforts include running nationwide ads on billboards, buses and social media promoting fossil fuels and engaging in misinformation to mislead the public about the impact of oil and gas. They also use their supporter base and their reach to sabotage climate policy, such as the proposed cap on pollution from oil and gas companies. Though Canada Action claims to be grassroots, they are funded by major oil and gas companies, such as Cenovus and ARC resources.

    “The health of our planet has always been important to me,” said Jay Dearborn, Canadian bobsled pilot. “That’s why I was happy to partner with Environmental Defence and use my platform to promote renewable energy, action against climate change, and our most valuable resource: wide open untouched, healthy nature. I want to do what I can to protect the places and sports that I love.”

    For winter athletes, climate change poses existential risks to doing what they love. It makes sense that Canadian athletes want to show their support for climate action. Replacing fossil fuels like oil and gas with renewable energy is critically important for addressing climate change.

    Advertising campaigns by the oil and gas industry have derailed climate action for decades. Intervention at all levels is required to limit the harmful influence of industry greenwashing.

    “We ended tobacco advertising once we understood the harm caused by smoking,” said Levin. “Fossil fuels cause climate change, which has devastating consequences for people and the environment. It’s time we apply the same logic as we did to smoking, and limit advertisements that try to sell and promote fossil fuels. This includes governments at all levels implementing bans on advertising, as well as sports organizations taking steps to end the practice of sportswashing.”

    Backgrounder Information

    • Jay Dearborn is a Canadian bobsled pilot, an Olympian, and a former CFL player from Ontario. He graduated from Carleton University in 2023 with a degree in Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering.
    • A 2024 report from UK based researchers showed that oil and gas companies have spent at least $5.6 billion pounds across 205 active sponsorship deals.
    • Canada Action ran a massive advertising campaign on streetcars in Toronto last year, in the lead-up to a decision from Toronto City Council to limit greenwashing and fossil fuel advertising on the TTC. Ads by Canada Action promoting “natural” gas, which is a fossil fuel, were called out by Canada’s advertising regulator for being inaccurate and misleading.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
    Stephanie Kohls, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca, 647-280-9521

    The post Environmental Defence Sponsors Olympic Athlete to Raise Attention to the Oil and Gas Industry’s Blatant Greenwashing of Sports  appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Federal government approves new, massive $20 billion loan for Trans Mountain Pipeline

    Statement by Julia Levin, Associate Director, National Climate

    Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People –Yesterday, the Government of Canada quietly posted a new $20 billion loan for the Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline (TMX).

    The newest subsidy for TMX brings the total to $50 billion in taxpayer money that has been loaned out to pay for this project. This newest massive loan will only benefit CEOs from the oil and banking industry, while Canadians – already struggling with an affordability crisis – will be left on the hook to cover the costs. 

    This newest loan is also a clear violation of the federal government’s promise not to provide further public money to the project. It brings the total amount of financial support given to the oil and gas industry by the federal government last year to $28.5 billion. 

    Oil industry CEOs and their political supporters have been quick to exploit the current uncertainty sparked by President Trump’s tariff threat by insisting the answer is more oil and gas pipelines. Let TMX be a warning: it’s taxpayers who end up paying the price, as multinational, foreign-owned companies reap the rewards. More fossil fuel infrastructure is not a winning strategy for Canadians or the planet.  

    Oil and gas companies never let a crisis go to waste. We’ve seen it before, for example in response to the crisis in Ukraine. The response from the fossil fuel industry is always the same: do away with regulations, build more pipelines, remove limits to pollution and scrap environmental assessments. Of course, none of those things would actually help with the current situation. And what they’re not admitting is that our dependence on fossil fuels has made us more vulnerable to geopolitics. The way to break that dependence is to transition to renewable energy and real energy security. We need to diversify our economy because the costs of oil are just too great for Canadians.

    Background Information

    • Although the loan was dated to December 13th, it was only made public and published online yesterday on January 30th.
    • The loan is being provided through Export Development Canada’s Canada Account, which is administered by the crown corporation but governed by the federal Cabinet.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Tamara Latinovic, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

    The post Federal government approves new, massive $20 billion loan for Trans Mountain Pipeline appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Groups Oppose Brampton Waste Incinerator Expansion and Demand Updates to Ontario Pollution Policy

    Ineffective requirements to control toxic pollutants could allow a dangerous spike of cancer-causing chemicals into the air and soil in the GTA

    ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, THE BRAMPTON ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE, DURHAM ENVIRONMENT WATCH, THE TORONTO ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE, THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICIANS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Community, environmental, and health groups across Ontario are calling for a halt to the proposed massive expansion of the privately-owned waste incinerator in Brampton and a review of the province’s policy for permitting these polluting facilities. The Brampton facility owner recently completed a second Environmental Screening Report to get its proposal to expand annual waste burning capacity nearly four times — to 900,000 tonnes per year — rubber stamped by Queen’s Park.

    The expansion would mean a steep increase in highly toxic pollution linked to serious health problems. Brampton, a community of workers and immigrants with a large proportion of people whose first language is not English, is already exposed to high levels of air pollution from transportation and industrial emissions. This includes heavy metals, such as lead, mercury and arsenic, and carcinogenic dioxins and furans.

    “By approving the expansion, the province would signal its willingness to sacrifice this growing community to more health and environmental harm,” said Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager for Plastics at Environmental Defence. “Incineration produces dangerous pollutants that are not well controlled under existing regulation in Ontario. Pushing ahead with a quadrupling of capacity at the Brampton incinerator is a recipe for disaster and an environmental injustice.”

    “We definitely don’t want to see Brampton become the waste burning capital of Ontario, and that would be the effect of the proposal,” said Steve Papagiannis, board member of the Brampton Environmental Alliance. “We’re asking the provincial government to put a stop to the incinerator expansion process and conduct a fuller assessment. The government should start by getting an accurate picture of the current state of air pollution in the area around the incinerator, something the company conducting its own environmental review seemed incapable of doing. The community deserves to know the impacts of this massive expansion and the alternatives to burning waste in the first place.”

    Municipalities across the province, including Toronto and Ottawa, are currently exploring the idea of burning their waste, including at an expanded Brampton facility.

    “Toronto and other cities need to shut the door once and for all on incineration,” said Emily Alfred, senior campaigner at the Toronto Environmental Alliance. “Audits show that we can do better: the majority of what is sent to this incinerator, and to landfills, is organic and recyclable material. Burning this waste releases massive amounts of toxic pollution and carbon emissions — it’s a climate disaster. Instead, we need to reduce waste, and ensure that the rest is composted and recycled. It would be grossly unfair to send Toronto’s garbage to be burned in our neighbours’ backyard.”

    The original Environmental Screening Report from the Brampton incinerator owner showed that existing levels of benzo(a)pyrene, a probable human carcinogen produced from the burning of fossil fuels in cars, airplanes and industrial plants — and plastics in waste incinerators — are already above the provincial air quality guideline in the area. The report also found that expansion of the incinerator would result in breaching the air quality standard for dioxins and furans produced from burning waste, as well as for nitrogen dioxides.

    “The proposed Brampton incinerator expansion is a ticking time bomb for the community,” said Dr. Sehjal Bhargava, Family Doctor and Co-Chair of the Ontario Regional Committee of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. “Toxic pollution released from incinerators is linked with serious health harms, including respiratory illnesses and cancers. The proposed expansion in a predominantly working class and racialized community further emphasizes the risks that marginalized communities face from polluting industries. Increasing exposure to these pollutants in the absence of strict controls will worsen quality of life, health outcomes, and further exacerbate existing disparities.”

    If the province is considering allowing the Brampton expansion, the groups have called for a full Environmental Assessment of the project and a review of provincial policy for permitting waste incinerators, Guideline A-7, prior to any permit being issued. A report commissioned by Environmental Defence demonstrates significant weaknesses in Ontario policy when compared with similar jurisdictions in the United States and Europe.

    “Our experience with the ‘modern’ municipal waste incinerator in Durham shows there are significant toxic releases,” said Wendy Bracken of Durham Environment Watch. “We are learning just how often the facility experiences other-than-normal operating conditions, during which the release of toxic pollutants is unpredictable and likely to be much higher than what is indicated by the very short-term tests conducted semi-annually under ideal conditions. But Ontario policy doesn’t take into account these fluctuations and therefore discounts the actual impacts of emissions on the nearby community and environment. That’s a dangerous approach and it needs to be addressed and remedied — and urgently before the Province issues any new or amended permits.”

    Background documents:

    Submissions 1 and 2 on the Brampton incinerator expansion

    Consultant’s report on the gaps in Guideline A-7

    Application for Review of Guideline A-7 under the Environmental Bill of Rights

     

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    The Brampton Environmental Alliance (BEA) is an independent  not-for-profit organization supporting local environmental issues. Being independent from the City of Brampton gives the BEA freedom to advocate for important environmental issues while still maintaining a positive and constructive relationship with Brampton City staff and Council. The BEA is a Brampton wide network of organizations, community groups and individuals that envision Brampton growing as a sustainable community, one that is healthy and resilient environmentally, socially and economically.

    Durham Environment Watch (DEW) is non-profit and non-partisan, working to ensure our Region becomes a sustainable, healthy community.  Our special focus has been waste management and DEW has been active on the Durham incinerator since it was initially proposed. DEW is one of three community groups designated by the Minister of Environment, in a Condition of EA Approval, to participate on the DYEC incinerator’s Advisory Committee.

    The Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) has campaigned locally to find solutions to Toronto’s urban environmental problems for over 35 years and advocates on behalf of all Torontonians for a green, healthy, and equitable city.

    The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) is a physician-directed non-profit organization working to secure human health by protecting the planet. Since its founding in 1994, CAPE’s work has achieved substantial policy victories in collaboration with many partners in the environmental and health movements. From coast to coast to coast, the organization operates throughout the country with regional committees active in most provinces and all territories.

    – 30 –

     For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Lauren Thomas, Environmental Defence,  media@environmentaldefence.ca

    Steve Papagannis, Brampton Environmental Alliance, steve.papagiannis@gmail.com

    Wendy Bracken, Durham Environment Watch,  durhamenvironmentwatch@gmail.com

    Jessica Gordon, Toronto Environmental Alliance, jessica@torontoenvironment.org

    Reykia Fick, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, media@cape.ca

    The post Groups Oppose Brampton Waste Incinerator Expansion and Demand Updates to Ontario Pollution Policy appeared first on Environmental Defence.

    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

  • Environmental Groups Celebrate Planned Expansion of Rouge Urban National Park

    Statement by Tim Gray, Executive Director

    Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Environmental Defence is thrilled that the federal government today announced that the Pickering Airport will not go ahead and that its approximately 3,500 hectares of publicly-owned land will be added to the Rouge Urban National Park.

    Because it is owned by the federal government, the land was already off-limits for the destructive suburban sprawl that has threatened most of Ontario’s best farmland and wildlife habitat since the repeal of the Growth Plan for the Greater Horseshoe. The pending inclusion of these lands within a national park will provide permanent protection, shielding them from land speculators who targeted the adjacent Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve during the Ontario government’s failed attempt to dismantle the Greenbelt.

    Protecting these lands is essential. Since the federal government’s 1972 expropriation of the Pickering Lands, the area has preserved important biodiversity while also continuing to support farming families and helping safeguard Canada’s food security.

    Extending Parks Canada protection to this ecologically sensitive area in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) contiguous to the Greenbelt will be an important step in enhancing one of very few ecological corridors between Lake Ontario and the Greenbelt and the Oak Ridges Moraine contained within it.

    This decision by the federal government will provide natural and recreational opportunities for future generations of GTA residents. This is especially important in view that the GTA’s population is projected to grow by 41 per cent from 2023 to 2046, adding another 3.1 million people to reach over 10 million residents.

    Today’s announcement also means that these biodiversity rich lands will not be opened up for sprawl, and signals that housing should instead be built inside urban settlement areas close to amenities, jobs and educational opportunities, where more homes can be built faster and at lower cost.

    ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

    – 30 –

    For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

    Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence
    media@environmentaldefence.ca

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    This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.