Petroleum Communication Foundation (PCF)

Background

The Petroleum Communication Foundation (PCF) was a Calgary, Alberta-based non-profit that developed communication materials for the fossil fuel industry in Canada.¹ PCF described itself as “a national non-profit association founded in 1975 to increase public awareness and understanding of the Canadian petroleum industry.”²

PCF became part of the Canadian Centre for Energy Information (Centre for Energy), a joint initiative of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and the Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (SEPAC), on January 1, 2003.³ ⁴

PCF was established in what it described as “a time of intense public debate and uncertainty about fuel supplies following the OPEC crisis.”⁵

“PCF, then known as the Petroleum Resources Communication Foundation, strived to make sure Canadians had ready access to accurate information about the Canadian petroleum industry. Unlike other industry organizations, PCF adopted a non-advocacy role, creating communication programs to inform Canadians about the petroleum industry in Canada,” PCF claimed.⁶

PCF has created materials that deny the severity of the climate crisis, including sample speaking notes that said “scientists themselves are divided as to whether global warming is due to the natural variability of climate, or is a result of human activity,” and that “it may be that the experts never agree.”⁷

Earlier versions of PCF’s website claimed the group was building “a comprehensive elementary and secondary education program that will cover all aspects of the Canadian petroleum industry.”⁸ Later versions of its site noted under “educators”: “PCF’s kindergarten to grade 12 education program provides teachers with fact-based learning resources that fit a variety of curricula including science, social studies, math, language arts and information and communication technology. The activities encourage students to explore various aspects of the petroleum industry – technological, economic, social, historical and environmental – to build a strong understanding of the industry and how it affects Canadians.⁹

The Government of Alberta still referenced documents produced by PCF on its website as of 2026 when discussing both natural gas¹⁰ and the tar sands.¹¹

The Canadian Centre for Energy Information

PCF became part of the Canadian Centre for Energy Information (Centre for Energy) on January 1, 2003.¹²

The Centre was created by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and the Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (SEPAC), according to a CAPP press release.¹³

The Centre’s mission would be to “promote understanding of the pivotal role energy plays in the Canadian and North American societies, and will encourage inquiry and informed, objective discussion on the future of the Canadian energy industry.”¹⁴

NATIONAL Public Relations, the Canadian affiliate of Burson-Marsteller, was “asked to help set up the new organization” in order to “help the Centre achieve the country wide profile and impact that is critical to its mandate.”¹⁵

Stance on Climate Change

1999

PCF published a document on climate change on its website, captured in a 1999 Internet Archive snapshot. One heading outlined what PCF called “Some Uncertainties”:¹⁶

“The global climate change theory is widely accepted in principle. However, there are many uncertainties about how change occurs and what processes may offset human-caused emissions. It’s difficult to separate human-caused effects from those caused by natural phenomena such as ocean currents, cloud cover, volcanoes and variations in solar energy.

“As a result, there is little agreement about how much warmer or cooler the Earth’s atmosphere may become, what impact climate change could have, or how soon we may feel the effects. There is also difficulty in defining exactly what levels of carbon dioxide emissions will be harmful to people. The principal agreement guiding international climate change policy, called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, wants to prevent ‘dangerous anthropogenic (human-caused) interference with the climate system.’ However, scientists can’t precisely define ‘dangerous’.

“Some scientists claim there is no scientific basis for attributing climate change to human activities. They believe that current temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations are well within long-term observations. For example, some note that long-term variations in temperature correlate closely to solar activity data.

“As David Tuer, President and Chief Executive Officer of PanCanadian Petroleum Limited says, ‘I personally do not believe that it is fruitful to carry on a debate about the science of global warming – rightly or wrongly, we are past that juncture.’ Research in this area is continuously advancing, but many uncertainties remain. It may take decades before scientists can state with certainty how human-induced greenhouse gas emissions change climate on a local, regional or global scale.”

The website claimed “impacts could be both negative and positive”:¹⁷

“Environment Canada also acknowledges that the societal and economic impacts could be both negative and positive. For example, in some regions of the world, societies would benefit from warmer climates.”

December 1997

Shortly after passage of the Kyoto Protocol, the world’s first binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gases, the PCF released material questioning the science behind climate change.¹⁸

“[F]or some time, scientists and others have been examining the effects human activities might have on Earth’s atmosphere and on the global climate, now and in the future. Has the Earth’s climate changed and, if so, are humans the cause?”

“Are global warming and climate change happening? In 1995, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicated ‘a discernible human influence on global climate and that this influence represents an important additional stress on the global ecosystem.’ Certainly, this serves as a warning, but says very little about the timing or magnitude of climate change, if any. Uncertainties remain.”

“Some people think that Canada’s high quality of life comes with a cost, and that the only way to resolve the issue of global warming is to shut down industries and economies. Others deny there’s any problem at all.”

PCF speaking notes from the same information package provide a hypothetical speaker with “information on greenhouse gas emissions” to present to an audience. The speech template begins: “Good [morning/afternoon/evening]. It’s a pleasure to be here today. I’m [name] of [organization],” then goes on:¹⁹

“Canadians are confused partly because scientists themselves are divided as to whether global warming is due to the natural variability of climate, or is a result of human activity. It may be that the experts never agree.”²⁰

1998 (Estimated)

CAPP also made comments regarding greenhouse gas emissions. In a set of documents reviewed by DeSmog, most dated 1998, a CAPP slide presented “THE SCIENCE” as “Complex; Uncertain; and Not Easily nor Soon Resolved.”²¹

“This whole area is one more uncertainty/risk that needs to be managed,” the CAPP slide noted.²²

Funding

An early version of PCF’s archived website, listed its “clients” as:²³

“our members and their employees”
“community leaders”
“business and investment advisors”
“elected representatives, public servants”
“students and educators”
“environmentally concerned citizens”
“First Nations’ communities”
“media representatives”
“gasoline consumers”
“petroleum industry employees”

According to documents uncovered by DeSmog, the group initially relied on “unstable levels of industry funding (voluntary membership fees)” which “have limited their scope and reach.”²⁴

The document suggests that once it began to receive funding from a levy on oil wells in Alberta, its budget nearly doubled:²⁵

“The constraints of highly-fluctuating funding, often tied to the vagaries of oil prices and industry-mergers – were recognized by industry leaders who in 1998 arranged for PCF to receive the majority of its funding from a levy on operating (conventional) wells in Alberta, known as the Broad Industry Initiative (BII). This arrangement nearly doubled PCF’s funding and boosted PCF output to new heights,” the document notes.

The Globe and Mail reported in 2000 that the PCF “funded in equal portions by industry and taxpayers.”²⁶

Broad Industry Initiatives (BII) and Well Levy

PCF based its funding model in part on the “Broad Industry Initiatives (BII) program,” a new funding mechanism it was actively exploring in 1998:²⁷

“Since 1998, the producing sector [Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (SEPAC)] of the industry has funded the PCF through a levy at the wellhead of $0.00008/barrels of oil equivalent (boe) that generates more than $1 million annually. To ensure equal representation and participation of the whole industry in its activities, the PCF is undertaking a review of its funding formula.”

As of 2002, PCF reported this funding “through a levy on operating (conventional) wells, only in Alberta, known as the Broad Industry Initiative (BII),” had “nearly doubled PCF’s funding and boosted PCF output to new heights.”²⁸

“While PCF products and programs have been extremely well received, financial constraints -tied to unstable levels of industry funding (voluntary membership fees) – have limited their scope and reach. The constraints of highly-fluctuating funding, often tied to the vagaries of oil prices and industry-mergers – were recognized by industry leaders who in 1998 arranged for PCF to receive the majority of its funding from a levy on operating (conventional) wells in Alberta, known as the Broad Industry Initiative (BII). This arrangement nearly doubled PCF’s funding and boosted PCF output to new heights.”

An agreement between PCF, CAPP and SEPAC suggested all three groups relied on the program:²⁹

“On a ‘go-forward’ basis, both parties [PCF and CAPP/SEPAC] will continue to rely to varying degrees on funding from the Broad Industry Initiatives (BII) program. Recent changes to BII funding criteria emphasize ‘the importance of an Alberta focus to the programs that receive funding through the BII Well Levy.’ In response, we acknowledge the following considerations specific to this important source of funding.

“In keeping with BII direction,

“PCF concurs that funds received via BII will be used for ‘Alberta-focused upstream education and communication initiatives with any initiatives outside this scope being funded through other means.’

“PCF has assurance from BII for a matching funds concept of 2:1 for 2001 and 1:1 in 2002 and beyond. Recognizing this direction, PCF will generate incremental funding from other sources to reduce the sole-funder role on the members of CAPP/SEPAC and ensure broader-based funding for petroleum communication programs not solely focussed on Alberta.

“’For 2002 and future years, PCF and SEEDS, an energy/environmental education organization, along with other oil and gas industry education organizations should be prepared to present a unified request for funding Alberta-focused, upstream education and communication initiatives through the BII Well Levy.’”

“CAPP/SEPAC also concurs that funds received via BII will be used for public affairs strategies that support key priority issues for Alberta (e.g. Stewardship, industry-landowner initiatives, sour gas communications).

“CAPP/SEPAC will continue to explore partnership arrangements to enhance the effectiveness of advocacy-based public affairs initiatives.

“In addition, PCF will work to recruit senior industry representation on its Board of Governors.”

Key Documents

Key People

Board Members³⁰

Actions

January 2000

The Globe and Mail reported PCF had released pamphlets for landowners “that acknowledge the industry has a pollution problem” and reportedly “provide history, facts and a selective sampling of health research on two of Alberta’s greatest health controversies: sour gas and flaring.³¹

However, the two PCF reports “still show a strong industry bias, citizen activists say.”³²

“This is a sophisticated attempt to spin doctor the problem with half-truths and misrepresentations,” said Citizens Oil and Gas Council executive Mike Sawyer, according to The Globe and Mail. “The fact that industry has come out with these documents indicates how fearful industry and government are about these issues,” he added.

2000

The PCF released a game for children called ‘The Oil Game’, “an innovative way to teach junior and senior high school students about the petroleum industry” with the instructions: “Students are organized into oil companies and work as a team to plan and drill an exploration well.”³³

An archived PCF description of the game on PCF’s website as of August 2000, explains that it was created by fossil fuel companies who “donated substantial financial and time resources toward the development of the project.” Company representatives were placed in schools and participated “in game sessions to answer questions and add real life experiences to the process,” playing “an active role in the instruction of the game.”³⁴

The website noted “founding sponsors” included: PanCanadian Petroleum Limited, Landmark Graphics, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Petro-Canada, and the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists.³⁵

Canadian Centre for Energy Information (CCEI) — PCF became part of CCEI.³⁶
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) — Coordinated activities, shared information, cooperated, promoted each other to target groups. PCF executive director a member of CAPP’ Public Affairs Executive Policy Group and CAPP Vice President of Public Affairs on the PCF Board.³⁷

PCF Members

PCF listed members on its website:

In 2000³⁸ and 2001,³⁹ PCF also listed all producing members of CAPP and SEPAC as “Special Members” of PCF:

“Producing members of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and the Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (SEPAC) are also members of the Petroleum Communication Foundation (PCF). For a list of these members, please visit the CAPP and SEPAC Web sites,” PCF wrote.

Below are CAPP and SEPAC members listed in 2001:

CAPP Producer Members⁴⁰ ⁴¹

SEPAC Members

The SEPAC’s website in 2001 notes the following is only a fraction of their membership:⁴²

“Generally, SEPAC does not release the names of its members. However, a number of our members have authorised us to make their names public. The following list represents approximately 34% of the Association’s membership.”

Alhambra Resources Ltd.
Allied Oil & Gas Corp.
AltaCanada Energy Corp.
American Leduc Petroleums Limited
Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc.
APF Energy Group
Applied Terravision Systems Inc.
Aquila Canada Corp.
Argonauts Group Ltd.
Ascot Energy Resources Ltd.
Avid Oil & Gas Ltd.
Bank of Nova Scotia
Barnwell of Canada, Limited
Barrington Petroleum Ltd.
BelAir Energy Corporation
Benson Petroleum Ltd.
Best Pacific Resources Ltd.
Big Horn Resources Ltd.
Bison Resources Ltd.
Bonterra Energy Corp.
Boundary Creek Resources Ltd.
Buffalo Oil Company Limited
BXL Energy Ltd.
Camberly Energy Ltd.
Canada Southern Petroleum Ltd.
Canadian Superior Energy Inc.
Canadian Western Bank
CanScot Resources Ltd.
Caravan Oil & Gas Ltd.
Causeway Energy Corp.
Cavell Energy Corporation
CEC Resources Ltd.
Chain Energy Corporation
Cigar Oil & Gas Ltd.
Circumpacific Energy Inc.
Comstate Resources Ltd.
Corsair Exploration Inc.
Crispin Energy Inc.
Danoil Energy Ltd.
Del Roca Energy Inc.
Derrick Resources Inc.
Desmarais Energy Corporation
Devlan Exploration Company Ltd.
Diaz Resources Ltd.
Drake Pacific Enterprises Ltd.
Drilcorp Energy Ltd.
Duke Energy Marketing Limited Partnership
Dynamic Oil & Gas Limited
Encounter Energy Inc.
Endeavour Resources Inc.
Endless Energy Corp.
Energy North Inc.
Esker Resources Ltd.
Eurogas Corporation
Everest Energy Corporation
Field Atkinson Perraton
Firstland Energy Limited
Founders Energy Ltd.
Franco-Nevada Mining Corporation Ltd.
Gentry Resources Ltd.
Geocan Energy Inc.
Grace Resources Inc.
Green Maple Energy Inc.
Gresham Resources Inc.
Grey Wolf Exploration Inc.
Hawk Oil Inc.
Hornet Energy Ltd.
Infiniti Resources International Ltd.
International Gryphon Resources Inc.
International Sovereign Energy Corp.
Justinian Exploration Ltd. Kensington Energy Ltd.
Ketch Energy Ltd.
KeyWest Energy Corporation
Kroes Energy Inc.
Liberty Oil & Gas Ltd.
LM Resources Inc.
Loon Energy Inc.
Manhattan Resources Ltd.
Markwest Resources, Inc.
Maximum Holdings Corp.
Mera Petroleums Inc.
Meridian Energy Corporation
Millennium Evergy Inc.
NCE Resources Group Inc.
Neutrino Resources Inc.
New North Resources Ltd.
Nu-Sky Energy Inc.
Nycan Petroleum Corp.
Oilexco Incorporated
Oiloffice.com
Oiltec Resources Ltd.
Olympia Energy Inc.
Onward Energy Inc.
Pacific Cassiar Limited
PCC Energy Ltd.
Petrobank Energy and Resources ltd.
Peyto Exploration & Development Corp.
Place Resources Corporation
Player Petroleum Corporation
Powermax Energy Inc.
Prairie Pacific Energy Corporation
Probe Exploration Inc.
Progress Energy Ltd.
Purcell Energy Ltd.
Pyramid Energy Inc.
Q Energy Limited
Ramarro Resources Inc.
Ranchero Energy Inc.
Range Petroleum Corporation
Richland Petroleum Corporation
Rider Resources Inc.
Rio Alto Exploration Ltd.
Rosetta Exploration Inc.
Sawtooth International Resources Inc.
Schlumberger Canada Ltd.
Search Energy Corp.
Servant Energy Inc.
Shenandoah Resources Ltd.
Spire Energy Ltd.
Startech Energy Inc.
Storm Energy Inc.
Synergy Technologies Corporation
Tappit Resources Ltd.
Texalta Petroleum Ltd.
Texas T Resources Inc.
The Wiser Oil Company of Canada
Thunder Energy Inc.
Tikal Resources Corp
Tiverton Petroleums Ltd.
Torex Resources Inc.
Trafina Energy Ltd.
TransCanada Energy Ltd.
TransGlobe Energy Corporation
TriGas Exploration Inc.
True Energy Inc.
TUSK Energy Inc.
Velvet Exploration Ltd.
Veteran Resources Inc.
Viking Management Ltd.
Vision 2000 Exploration Ltd.
Westcoast Capital Corporation
Western Star Exploration Ltd.
Whitehall Energy Ltd.
Winstar Resources Ltd.
Zapata Energy Corporation
Zorin Exploration Ltd.

Contact & Address

According to a October 2000 archive of the PCF website, it was located at the following address:⁴³

Petroleum Communication Foundation
#214, 311 – 6 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 3H2
Ph.: (403) 264-6064
Fax: (403) 237-6286
E-mail: [email protected]

Neither PCF nor the Canadian Centre for Energy Information appear to have been active on social media

Other Resources

Resources

1
PCF – About Us. 27 Oct. 2000, https://web.archive.org/web/20001027143454/http://www.pcf.ab.ca/about_us/default.asp. ↩︎
2
PCF – About Us. 27 Oct. 2000, https://web.archive.org/web/20001027143454/http://www.pcf.ab.ca/about_us/default.asp. ↩︎
3
New Energy Information Initiative Announced’. CAPP, 18 Apr. 2002, http://www.capp.ca/Release/020418.html. URL no longer accessible; Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
4
D. Bott, Robert. Evolution Of Canada’s Oil and Gas Industry. 7th Edition, Canadian Centre for Energy Information, 2004, https://web.archive.org/web/20260915230721/https://www.energybc.ca/cache/oil/www.centreforenergy.com/shopping/uploads/122.pdf. ↩︎
5
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
6
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
7
Dembicki, Geoff. ‘Suncor Helped Lead Climate Denial Group Spreading ‘Uncertainties’’. DeSmog, https://www.desmog.com/2026/09/21/suncor-helped-lead-climate-denial-group-spreading-uncertainties/ . ↩︎
8
PCF – Educators. Petroleum Communication Foundation, 20 Oct. 2000, https://web.archive.org/web/20001020051610/http://www.pcf.ab.ca/educators/default.asp. ↩︎
9
“Petroleum Communication Foundation – Free Teaching Resources for Educators. Petroleum Communication Foundation, 25 June 2003, https://web.archive.org/web/20030625024724/http://www.pcf.ab.ca/educators/default.asp. ↩︎
10
Sources – Natural Gas – Alberta’s Energy Heritage. https://web.archive.org/web/20260916184838/https://www.history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/gas/sources.aspx. Archived 17 Sept. 2026. ↩︎
11
Sources – Oil Sands – Alberta’s Energy Heritage. https://web.archive.org/web/20260917182644/https://www.history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/sands/sources.aspx. Archived 17 Sept. 2026. ↩︎
12
D. Bott, Robert. Evolution Of Canada’s Oil and Gas Industry. 7th Edition, Canadian Centre for Energy Information, 2004, https://web.archive.org/web/20260915230721/https://www.energybc.ca/cache/oil/www.centreforenergy.com/shopping/uploads/122.pdf. ↩︎
13
New Energy Information Initiative Announced’. CAPP, 18 Apr. 2002, http://www.capp.ca/Release/020418.html. URL no longer accessible; Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
14
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
15
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
16
Sustain. Petroleum Communication Foundation, https://web.archive.org/web/19990224135323/http://pcf.ab.ca/sustain/sustain.html. ↩︎
17
Sustain. Petroleum Communication Foundation, https://web.archive.org/web/19990224135323/http://pcf.ab.ca/sustain/sustain.html. ↩︎
18
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Package FACT SHEETS: Fact 1 . 24 Feb. 1998, https://web.archive.org/web/19980224123427/http://pcf.ab.ca/ggfact1.html. ↩︎
19
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Package FACT SHEETS: Fact 1 . 24 Feb. 1998, https://web.archive.org/web/19980224123427/http://pcf.ab.ca/ggfact1.html. ↩︎
20
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Package: SPEAKING NOTES for Information Package. 14 Feb. 1998, https://web.archive.org/web/19980214062332/http://pcf.ab.ca/ggspeak.html, https://web.archive.org/web/20260916175038/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/oil-industry-comes-clean—sort-of/article4159363/ ↩︎
21
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
22
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
23
Welcome to the Petroleum Communication Foundation’s online information services. Petroleum Communication Foundation, https://web.archive.org/web/19961222003708/http://pcf.ab.ca/. ↩︎
24
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
25
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
26
Nikiforuk, Andrew. ‘Oil Industry Comes Clean – Sort Of’. The Globe and Mail, 20 Jan. 2000, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/oil-industry-comes-clean—sort-of/article4159363/. ↩︎
27
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
28
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
29
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
30
‘INFORMATION RE PCF BOARD AND EXECUTIVE MEMBERS 1991 – 2002’. DeSmog via DocumentCloud, 14 June 2002, https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28653898-0603-board-history-2-13/. ↩︎
31
Nikiforuk, Andrew. ‘Oil Industry Comes Clean – Sort Of’. The Globe and Mail, 20 Jan. 2000, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/oil-industry-comes-clean—sort-of/article4159363/. ↩︎
32
Nikiforuk, Andrew. ‘Oil Industry Comes Clean – Sort Of’. The Globe and Mail, 20 Jan. 2000, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/oil-industry-comes-clean—sort-of/article4159363/. ↩︎
33
PCF – Educators – Oil Game. 23 Aug. 2000, https://web.archive.org/web/20000823192058/http://www.pcf.ab.ca/educators/oil_game/default.asp. ↩︎
34
PCF – Educators – Oil Game. 23 Aug. 2000, https://web.archive.org/web/20000823192058/http://www.pcf.ab.ca/educators/oil_game/default.asp. ↩︎
35
PCF – Educators – Oil Game. 23 Aug. 2000, https://web.archive.org/web/20000823192058/http://www.pcf.ab.ca/educators/oil_game/default.asp. ↩︎
36
D. Bott, Robert. Evolution Of Canada’s Oil and Gas Industry. 7th Edition, Canadian Centre for Energy Information, 2004, https://web.archive.org/web/20260915230721/https://www.energybc.ca/cache/oil/www.centreforenergy.com/shopping/uploads/122.pdf. ↩︎
37
Material on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
38
PCF – About Us – Membership. 23 Aug. 2000, https://web.archive.org/web/20000823191920/http://www.pcf.ab.ca/about_us/membership/default.asp. ↩︎
39
PCF – About Us – Membership. 12 Dec. 2001, https://web.archive.org/web/20011212103202/http://www.pcf.ab.ca/about_us/membership/default.asp. ↩︎
40
Producers. CAPP, 19 Aug. 2000, https://web.archive.org/web/20000819080252/http://www.capp.ca/i_c_01.html. ↩︎
41
Producers. CAPP, 12 June 2001, https://web.archive.org/web/20010612115700/http://www.capp.ca/i_c_01.html. ↩︎
42
Membership List. SEPAC, 18 July 2001, https://web.archive.org/web/20010718215003/http://www.sepac.ca/association/Membership.htm. ↩︎
43
PCF – About Us. 27 Oct. 2000, https://web.archive.org/web/20001027143454/http://www.pcf.ab.ca/about_us/default.asp. ↩︎