Elections Canada to Investigate Friends of Science

onFeb 17, 2008 @ 14:50 PST

DeSmogBlog Laid Complaint; CanWest sets out the Case

Responding to a complaint that DeSmogBlog manager Kevin Grandia submitted late last year, Elections Canada is reported to be on the trail of the energy industry front group Friends of Science (FOS).

The DeSmog complaint pointed to FOS‘s own materials in stating the case. It is the law in Canada that anyone who spends more than $500 on advocacy advertising during an election must register with elections Canada. FOS siphoned $200,000 through a University of Calgary trust fund (courtesy of Barry Cooper, inset), didn’t register, and boasted afterwards that they had helped swing key Ontario ridings to allow for the minority victory of Conservative party leader and current Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The first mainstream media coverage of this story appeared today in this very thorough Edmonton Journal story.

By Richard Littlemore

A Database of Canada’s Fossil Fuel Lobbyists

ByTaylor Noakes

onJul 14, 2026 @ 13:05 PDT

Some lobby organizations that work for environmental organizations also work for the fossil fuel industry.

Can Ireland Deliver as ‘Honest Broker’? Here’s What’s at Stake for Climate and Nature in EU Council Presidency

ByRachel Sherrington

onJul 14, 2026 @ 08:44 PDT

The Republic’s historic failure to curb agricultural pollution drives concern among campaigners.

Leonard Leo's Anti-Climate Network Makes a European Debut

ByGeoff Dembicki

onJul 14, 2026 @ 08:01 PDT

Leo-linked operatives were among a who's who of the international right that gathered for the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in June.