Justin Trudeau’s government, which prides itself on being a champion of climate action, is granting privileged access to the polluting fossil fuel industry, while environmental organizations struggle to obtain meetings with key ministries.
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In 2022 and 2023, representatives from four key ministries met almost three times more often with lobbyists from the fossil fuel industry (oil, gas and coal) than with those from environmental organizations.
Finance Canada, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Privy Council Office and the Treasury Board Secretariat had 873 meetings with fossil industry lobbyists during this period, and only 303 with those from environmental organizations. This information was obtained through a compilation of data from the Registry of Lobbyists carried out by 24 hours and the Bureau of Investigation.
“Having access to these four is the equivalent of saying that we have access to the heart of power in our political system,” explains the researcher affiliated with the Center for Studies in Governance at the University of Ottawa. Maxime Boucher, founding member of the research project Lobbying and democratic governance in Canada.
▶ To consult our complete report on the place of the fossil industry lobby in Ottawa, click here.