Pathways Alliance oilsands group removes content from website and social media, citing Bill C-59

Pathways Alliance, a consortium of Canada's largest oilsands companies, has removed all its content from its website, social media and other public communications, citing federal Bill C-59.

Bill C-59, which is currently before the Senate, would require companies to provide evidence to back up their environmental claims. 

On its website, Pathways cites amendments to the Competition Act that would create "significant uncertainty" for Canadian companies that "want to communicate publicly about the work they are doing to improve their environmental performance."

"With uncertainty on how the new law will be interpreted and applied, any clarity the Competition Bureau can provide through specific guidance may help direct our communications approach in the future," the website reads. 

"For now, we have removed content from our website, social media and other public communications."

Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz has called the provision an "undemocratic gag order" that creates needless uncertainty for businesses. CBC News has reached out to Schulz for additional comment.

The advocacy group Environmental Defence claimed Thursday the move indicated that Pathways doesn't "have evidence to support the story they're selling on carbon capture, and that its member companies' business plans don't align with a net-zero future."

"It's clear that rules to rein in greenwashing are needed, and that C-59 is doing its job effectively if organizations like the Pathways Alliance are scrambling to take down their unsubstantiated environmental claims and rethinking their misleading advertising plans," the group wrote in a statement.

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce was also critical of Bill C-59, writing in a statement Thursday that the amendments would limit disclosure of climate targets and ambitions to investors and financial markets.

The Pathways Alliance, whose membership consists of Canada's six largest oilsands companies, has previously run ads across the country promoting its ambition to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from oilsands production by 2050.

Some environmental groups have said these ads are misleading, as the Pathways Alliance has not yet made a final investment decision on its proposed $16.5-billion carbon capture and storage network.