Net-zero by 2050 commitment not currently possible because of Bill C-59, says Pathways Alliance
CBC
A scaled-back version of the website for the Pathways Alliance, a consortium of Canada's largest oilsands companies, is back online, weeks after content was pulled down in response to Bill C-59.
Bill C-59, which includes amendments to the Competition Act, became law in June. The new rules require companies be able to prove their environmental claims.
The Pathways Alliance — Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Cenovus Energy Inc., ConocoPhillips Canada, Imperial Oil Ltd., MEG Energy Corp. and Suncor Energy Inc. — has run a large advertising campaign across Canada, which included a pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions from oilsands to net-zero by 2050.
But in June, the consortium removed all of its content from its website, social media and other public communications, replacing it with a notice that indicated its concern with the Competition Act amendments.
A number of its member companies also reacted. Imperial Oil displayed a disclaimer on some pages, writing that "archived information [was] provided solely for historical information and reference purposes." That notice remained as of Wednesday.
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) also removed online material. A spokesperson with the industry lobby group said Wednesday its website and digital platforms remain unchanged since June.
The Pathways Alliance website is back online but has been significantly scaled back.
The previous website included in-depth sections tied to the consortium's net-zero plan and proposed carbon capture and storage network in northeast Alberta, among others.
As of Wednesday, it hosted three sections: a landing page, a page tied to Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance — a long-standing organization focused on technological innovation in the oilsands — as well as a page with frequently asked questions tied to the amendments in the Competition Act.
On that page, one of the questions posed is whether Pathways is still committed to reaching net-zero by 2050.
The consortium doesn't provide a direct yes or no answer to that question.
"Our work has not stopped because of the changes to the Competition Act, but the changes do affect our ability to publicly discuss the work," the website reads.
In response to a followup inquiry from CBC News as to why a definitive commitment wasn't included, a spokesperson with Pathways said it was "indicative of the problem with the changes to the Competition Act."
"Being subject to an ambiguous, undefined standard makes it very difficult to make certain statements because there is no clear definition against which to measure accuracy," the spokesperson wrote.
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