Fuelling Canada
Background
Fuelling Canada is a campaign launched by the Canadian Gas Association (CGA)1CEC Staff. “How Canada benefits from reliable, affordable natural gas New campaign looks to start a conversation with Canadians about the future,” Canadian Energy Centre, March 3, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL:https://archive.ph/ocuHv that describes itself as a “resource hub for Canadians to learn more about natural gas and its essential role in the Canadian economy.”2“About Us,” Fuelling Canada. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/yi9dT
Members of the CGA, which describes itself as “the voice of Canada’s natural gas delivery industry,” include “distribution companies, transmission companies, equipment manufacturers and other service providers.” Board members of the CGA include representatives from Enbridge Gas, ATCO Gas, Fortis BC, and TC Energy Corporation, among others. 3“About the Canadian Gas Association,” Canadian Gas Association. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL:https://archive.ph/Ih1vW
Fuelling Canada launched in November 2021 “with the goal of helping Canadians better understand the foundational role of this energy source across the country,” according to a story the campaign sponsored in the Daily Oil Bulletin.4Gord Cope. “CleanO2’s Carbon Capture Units For Natural Gas Appliances Convert Emissions Into Soap,” Daily Oil Bulletin, April 4, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/aJS3u
The story quoted Paul Cheliak, the CGA’s vice president for strategy and delivery, as saying that “natural gas is an essential part of our everyday lives. We are dedicated to providing Canadians with not only affordable and reliable natural gas, but with the information they need to make informed energy decisions.”
Fuelling Canada does not mention its affiliation with the Canadian Gas Association on its website.
Fuelling Canada placed sponsored content in The Globe and Mail in April 2022 that advocated residential natural gas use, without mentioning its ties to the CGA.5“Why natural gas is the smart choice for your new home,” The Globe and Mail, April 4, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/xrfaA
Fuelling Canada’s ads in the Meta/Facebook ad library do include a disclaimer that they are paid for by the Canadian Gas Association.6“Ads from Fuelling Canada,” Meta. accessed April 2022. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
When the CGA announced Fuelling Canada’s launch on social media – including LinkedIn and Twitter – it did not state that the two were affiliated.7“A resource hub called Fuelling Canada has been launched to provide Canadians with the opportunity to learn more about natural gas and its essential role in the Canadian economy,” LinkedIn post by user Canadian Gas Association, December 2021. 8“A resource hub called Fuelling Canada has been launched to provide Canadians with the opportunity to learn more about natural gas and its essential role in the Canadian economy,” Tweet by user @cga_acg, December 21, 2021. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
The campaign has been promoted by9“How Canada benefits from reliable, affordable natural gas New campaign looks to start a conversation with Canadians about the future,” Canadian Energy Centre, March 3, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL:https://archive.ph/ocuHv the Canadian Energy Centre (CEC). The CEC is an Alberta-based provincial corporation funded by the province’s carbon tax, and formed to promote Alberta’s tar sands and “effectively rebut every lie told by the green left about our world-class energy industry.”10“JASON KENNEY FOUNDING AGM SPEECH,” United Conservative Party, Archived July 7, 2019. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/cM54S
Stance on Climate Change
Fuelling Canada does not publicly state its stance on climate change. However, the campaign consistently promotes natural gas as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.11“Natural gas distributors are supporting Canada’s goal to lower emissions by investing in:” Tweet by user @FuellingCanada. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
DeSmog has previously reported on false and misleading campaigns by gas industry groups in the United States that promoted natural gas as the path to a lower carbon economy.
Funding
Board members of the CGA, as of April 2022, included representatives from the following companies:12“About the Canadian Gas Association,” Canadian Gas Association. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ih1vW
- Enbridge Gas Inc.
- ATCO Gas
- FortisBC & FortisBC Energy Inc.
- Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.
- TC Energy Corporation
- Canadian Gas Association
- Manitoba Hydro
- Apex Utilities Inc.
- SaskEnergy
- Heritage Gas Ltd.
- Énergir
- Safety, UL
- CR Wall & Co. Inc.
- Gazifère Inc.
- New Brunswick Liberty Utilities
Key People
Fuelling Canada does not list staff on its website. Paul Cheliak, a vice president of the Canadian Gas Association (CGA), was quoted about Fuelling Canada in sponsored content published in April 2022 by the Daily Oil Bulletin.13Gord Cope. “CleanO2’s Carbon Capture Units For Natural Gas Appliances Convert Emissions Into Soap,” Daily Oil Bulletin, April 4, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/aJS3u
Actions
April 4, 2022
Fuelling Canada placed sponsored content in The Globe and Mail titled “Why natural gas is the smart choice for your new home.”14“Why natural gas is the smart choice for your new home,” The Globe and Mail, April 4, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/xrfaA
The article does not mention that natural gas has been identified as a growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada15Environ. Sci. Technol. 2021, 55, 14, 9711–9720 Publication Date: July 13, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c06353 Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society , or the possible negative health impacts from breathing in fumes from natural gas.16Emily Chung. “After seeing how gas stoves pollute homes, these researchers are ditching theirs,” CBC News, April 7, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022.
Related Organizations
- Canadian Gas Association (CGA) — Fuelling Canada is a project of the CGA.17CEC Staff. “How Canada benefits from reliable, affordable natural gas New campaign looks to start a conversation with Canadians about the future,” Canadian Energy Centre, March 3, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL:https://archive.ph/ocuHv
Partners
Fuelling Canada lists the following “partners” on its website:18“About Us,” Fuelling Canada. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/yi9dT
- Canadian Gas Association
- Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF)*
- Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance (CNGVA)*
- Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada (HPBAC)
- CleanO2
- Dettson
- Westgen Technologies
- Kinitics Automation
- Doug Tarry Homes
- NGIF and CNGVA are listed as partners/initiatives of the Canadian Gas Association.19“About the Canadian Gas Association,” Canadian Gas Association. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ih1vW
Contact & Address
The Canadian Gas Association lists the following as its address:20“About the Canadian Gas Association,” Canadian Gas Association. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ih1vW
Canadian Gas Association (CGA)
350 Albert Street, Suite 1220
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 1A4
Social Media
Resources
- 1CEC Staff. “How Canada benefits from reliable, affordable natural gas New campaign looks to start a conversation with Canadians about the future,” Canadian Energy Centre, March 3, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL:https://archive.ph/ocuHv
- 2“About Us,” Fuelling Canada. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/yi9dT
- 3“About the Canadian Gas Association,” Canadian Gas Association. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL:https://archive.ph/Ih1vW
- 4Gord Cope. “CleanO2’s Carbon Capture Units For Natural Gas Appliances Convert Emissions Into Soap,” Daily Oil Bulletin, April 4, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/aJS3u
- 5“Why natural gas is the smart choice for your new home,” The Globe and Mail, April 4, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/xrfaA
- 6“Ads from Fuelling Canada,” Meta. accessed April 2022. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
- 7“A resource hub called Fuelling Canada has been launched to provide Canadians with the opportunity to learn more about natural gas and its essential role in the Canadian economy,” LinkedIn post by user Canadian Gas Association, December 2021.
- 8“A resource hub called Fuelling Canada has been launched to provide Canadians with the opportunity to learn more about natural gas and its essential role in the Canadian economy,” Tweet by user @cga_acg, December 21, 2021. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 9“How Canada benefits from reliable, affordable natural gas New campaign looks to start a conversation with Canadians about the future,” Canadian Energy Centre, March 3, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL:https://archive.ph/ocuHv
- 10“JASON KENNEY FOUNDING AGM SPEECH,” United Conservative Party, Archived July 7, 2019. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/cM54S
- 11“Natural gas distributors are supporting Canada’s goal to lower emissions by investing in:” Tweet by user @FuellingCanada. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
- 12“About the Canadian Gas Association,” Canadian Gas Association. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ih1vW
- 13Gord Cope. “CleanO2’s Carbon Capture Units For Natural Gas Appliances Convert Emissions Into Soap,” Daily Oil Bulletin, April 4, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/aJS3u
- 14“Why natural gas is the smart choice for your new home,” The Globe and Mail, April 4, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/xrfaA
- 15Environ. Sci. Technol. 2021, 55, 14, 9711–9720 Publication Date: July 13, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c06353 Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society
- 16Emily Chung. “After seeing how gas stoves pollute homes, these researchers are ditching theirs,” CBC News, April 7, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022.
- 17CEC Staff. “How Canada benefits from reliable, affordable natural gas New campaign looks to start a conversation with Canadians about the future,” Canadian Energy Centre, March 3, 2022. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL:https://archive.ph/ocuHv
- 18“About Us,” Fuelling Canada. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/yi9dT
- 19“About the Canadian Gas Association,” Canadian Gas Association. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ih1vW
- 20“About the Canadian Gas Association,” Canadian Gas Association. Archived April 26, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ih1vW
