Feds hid names of big oil companies at lobbying retreat

OTTAWA — The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has deliberately attempted to conceal key details about a taxpayer-funded lobbying training retreat it organized last year in London, England for its European diplomats to promote the oilsands, including names of major corporations involved and concerns raised at the meeting about whether its strategy was « credible. »

It also attempted to conceal a warning that emerged from the meeting about the importance of the oilsands industry in ongoing free trade discussions with Europe — the Comprehensive and Economic Free Trade Agreement talks. Read more…