Climate-impacted Canadians urge federal politicians to stop delaying and cap oil and gas emissions ahead of fossil fuel executives’ appearance at Parliamentary committee

Unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe Territories [OTTAWA], 6 June 2024:

Today, people from coast to coast who have been directly affected by climate disasters – including fires, floods, extreme heat and sea level rise – spoke at a multi-party press conference on Parliament Hill to share a heartfelt call for an end to delays in capping oil and gas emissions that are driving climate change.

These Canadians are speaking up ahead of the House of Commons Environment Committee meeting this afternoon, at which executives of Suncor, Imperial Oil, Cenovus Energy, Shell and Enbridge face questions about their companies’ rising emissions amid record profits.

Hosted by Climate Action Network Canada, the press conference was co-sponsored by NDP MP Laurel Collins, Liberal MP Patrick Weiler, Bloc Québecois MP Monique Pauzé and Green Party Leader and MP Elizabeth May.

“10 months ago, a wildfire destroyed my family’s home in Kelowna. I can never get back what we lost – the chair I rocked my grandson to sleep in, the staircase I held my daughter after her first heartbreak, Christmas decorations my children made. Across Canada, people like me are losing our homes to wildfires. We can’t stop all wildfires or floods but we can prevent them from becoming more frequent and intense. That’s why I’m asking federal politicians to stop delaying and put a cap on oil and gas emissions that are driving climate change. It’s only fair that the sector responsible for the biggest source of climate pollution does its part to limit its damage.”
–Heather Mackay, a hairstylist, and grandmother who lost her home in last summer’s wildfire in Kelowna.

“The 2021 fire in Lytton devastated my community, and the impact of that trauma on our lives – and on our children’s lives – will last long after buildings are rebuilt. Canadians are already suffering from climate disasters, and the frequency and intensity of those disasters are going to grow, from coast to coast to coast, unless we can curb the accelerating pace of climate change. We need a cap on fossil fuel emissions now – there is no time for more delays.”
–Meghan Fandrich, resident of Lytton, and author of Burning Sage: Poems from the Lytton fire.

The press conference took place one day after UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the fossil fuel sector “the godfathers of climate chaos”– rebuking the sector for “relentless zeal for obstructing progress . . . distorting the truth, deceiving the public, and sowing doubt.”

Three companies – Suncor, Cenovus Energy and Imperial Oil – whose CEOs are scheduled to speak to the Parliamentary committee today are members of industry lobby group the Pathways Alliance.

• A new InfluenceMap report shows the Pathways Alliance is trying to derail the emissions cap – a long-delayed policy critical for Canada to meet its climate goals. The federal government published a framework for the emissions cap last fall, but still has not released draft regulations.

• The report also shows that while the Pathways Alliance publicly champions carbon capture and storage as a climate solution, in correspondence with policymakers, it expresses doubts about whether the risky and expensive technology can meet emissions reduction goals.

• A recent study flagged Pathways Alliance ads for misinformation while the Competition Bureau is investigating ads for greenwashing.

“As the fossil fuel industry tries to weaken and block climate policy, people across Canada are already suffering from climate disasters. The science is clear – to prevent climate catastrophes from getting worse and keep people safe, we need to cut emissions faster and deeper. Federal politicians must listen to the majority of Canadians who support putting a limit on oil and gas emissions – not greedy oil and gas CEOs collecting record profits as their companies pollute our climate. Canada must immediately regulate the oil and gas sector – no more delays, and no more loopholes.”
–Alex Cool-Fergus, National Policy Manager, Climate Action Network Canada

According to the latest National Inventory Report, emissions from the oil and gas sector are derailing emissions cuts in other sectors. Canada’s oil and gas sector is responsible for nearly one-third of national emissions, significantly more than any other industry. The sector’s emissions climbed by 83 per cent between 1990 – 2022.

Fossil fuel emissions are driving climate change, which increases the likelihood and severity of extreme weather events like wildfires, heatwaves and floods.

• Last year, scientists found climate change made weather conditions that led to fires in Quebec twice as likely.

• Another study found that emissions from 88 major oil and gas producers were directly linked to increased wildfires across Western Canada and the United States.

At today’s press conference, participants shared vivid stories of loss, highlighting how climate change is already impacting people across Canada.

“In the North, we’re seeing climate change up close. Our winters are getting shorter. Our spring is getting longer. Our summer is getting hotter, with weather over 20 degrees. Up North, we hunt off the land and it keeps us healthy. With climate change, it’s harder and riskier to hunt because parts of the ice are getting thinner. Climate change is also making the sea level rise. The harbour in our village is at risk of eventually getting washed away. Local scientists said it will be gone in 15 years.”
–Darryl Tedjuk, resident of Tuktoyaktuk, a fishing village on the shores of the Arctic Ocean.

“In November 2021, I woke up to water rushing through our yard and towards our house. Neither my daughter or I had ever been in a flood before. It was scary. We left at 4:30 a.m. Water continued to flow into the house until 9 a.m. There are some things the flood ruined that I can’t get back – the antique vanity that my granny handed down to me, every father’s day gift my husband got in the last decade, that’s all gone. It took two years to repair our house.”
–Diana Boston, a member of Upper Nicola Band, Her home was severely damaged in a 2021 flood in Merritt, British Columbia.

“Climate change is hurting farmers in Canada. Those old farmer’s almanacs have nothing in them about how to prepare for a summer like last year’s, where a combination of extreme climatic events made it the last season for many farms in Quebec. A 6-week drought period and constant smoky air from forest fires all over the province was followed by two months of heavy rain every 12 hours. On top of that, there were hail storms and wind storms. Health authorities recommended staying indoors due to poor air quality but we needed to work in the fields. And this year, we’ve already seen our first tornado warning in our area and there have been hail warnings every week over the last month. A tornado or hail storm could cause absolute crop failure for us and seriously affect our business viability. The federal government should use every tool in its toolbox to cut emissions contributing to climate change.”
–Clémence Briand-Racine, an organic farmer and mom living and working in Quebec’s Outaouais region.

A recording of today’s press briefing can be viewed here.

Full bios of participants in today’s news conference:

• Heather Mackay, a hairstylist, mother and grandmother, who lost her home in last summer’s wildfire in Kelowna.

• Darryl Tedjuk, a resident of Tuktoyaktuk, a fishing village on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, at risk due to rising sea levels. Darryl is working on a documentary, Happening to Us, about climate impacts in his community.

• Clémence Briand-Racine is an organic farmer and mom living and working in the Outaouais region of Quebec. She and her partner own and run Ferme aux colibris (Hummingbird Farm), a diversified certified organic vegetable and flower farm.

• Diana Boston is a member of Upper Nicola Band, the only Sylix (Okanagan) community in the Nicola Valley. Her home was severely damaged in the 2021 flood in Merritt, British Columbia.

• Meghan Fandrich is a resident of Lytton, a parent, a neurodivergent writer, and author of Burning Sage: Poems from the Lytton fire.

• Alex Cool-Fergus is the National Policy Manager at Climate Action Network Canada.

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