Montreal, September 28, 2023— A sweeping majority of Quebecers, almost nine out of ten (86%), want oil and gas companies regulated so that they reduce their emissions. Support is even among men and women and strongest among people over age fifty-five (91 per cent) and the retired (94 per cent). This is according to a new poll from Léger commissioned by Nature Québec and Équiterre, and released today.
“With such a high rate of support from the population of Quebec for regulation of the Canadian oil and gas sector, the federal government has free rein to act and be ambitious,” said Anne-Céline Guyon, Climate and Energy Analyst, Nature Québec. “Quebecers want this sector to finally face its responsibilities and finally do its fair share. This means, among other things, that all regulations must be aligned with the 1.5°C objective,” she adds.
Draft regulations are expected next month for a federal cap on emissions from oil and gas production. However, six major oil companies, under the Pathways Alliance, have been lobbying the federal government to weaken and delay the regulation. Industry says it does not need a cap, despite rising emissions and claiming technologies like carbon capture and storage can get them to net zero.
“The findings are indisputable: Quebecers across the board see through the spin and know oil companies will not reduce their emissions on their own.”
-Andréanne Brazeau, Climate Policy Analyst at Équiterre
“We’re not buying what the Pathways Alliance is trying to sell through its greenwashing campaigns. Voluntary approaches have never worked with this sector, which is why a strong, quickly implemented emissions cap regulation is a key piece of the puzzle to a fast and fair energy transition in Canada.”
This alliance has spent the majority of their record profits on shareholder dividends and invested only a small amount in the clean energy transition. Meanwhile, a recent report shows Canada is poised to be the world’s second largest developer of new oil and gas extraction to 2050.
Methodology: Data was collected between August 25 and 27th from a sample size of 1000 Quebecers, aged eighteen and older.
For more information, please contact:
Gabriel Marquis, Communications
581-307-8613 ; Gabriel.marquis@naturequebec.org
Anthony Côté Leduc, Media relations
615-605-2000 ; acoteleduc@equiterre.org