Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 25 August 2026:

In response to the collapse of the Canada-U.S. trade negotiations over the weekend, Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada, issued the following statement: 

“Walking away from a deal that went from bad to terrible was the right thing to do. But to truly bolster Canada’s sovereignty, we need to break our dependence on a volatile trade partner and on a volatile high-carbon status quo. Instead, we should go all-in on clean industries that contribute to our energy independence. 

“As long as Canada continues to subsidize the oil and gas industry, largely U.S.-owned, we are risking our economy and energy security, responding to one trade shock after another, and failing to protect workers and communities across the country. These companies are profiting from burning our country down — both literally and figuratively — and they should be taxed. A tax on excess oil and gas profits could raise $40 billion within a single year and be reinvested to fund the support measures and public services Canadians need during this difficult period.

“Retaliation is necessary, but not enough. The rules of the game on international trade have long been unfair, putting corporations over communities and punishing countries for their sovereign choices in the interest of people and the environment. These tectonic geopolitical and economic shifts are an opportunity for Canada to not only diversify trade, but move away from the models that upheld the old partnerships and their modus operandi.

“We welcome the government’s commitment to protect workers and businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs. The costs of dealing with volatile trade partners shouldn’t fall on workers and communities. We now need to work towards investing in good, high-quality jobs, strong domestic supply chains, and in the clean industries we need for the economy of the future.”

In 2025, CAN-Rac and over 30 organizations published a call for a tariff response that puts people first and builds resilience. 

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Canada’s farthest-reaching network of organizations working on climate and energy issues, Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada is a coalition of close to 200 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our membership brings environmental groups together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives.

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Audrey Robillard, Bilingual Communications Coordinator
audreyrobillard@climateactionnetwork.ca

Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 28 July 2026:

Last week, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance Maritime regional electricity cooperation and system integration — marking an important step towards a deeper regional electricity system. 

The agreement between the three provinces establishes a process to develop a transmission roadmap, exploring how greater coordination of electricity planning, transmission, generation and emerging energy resources can strengthen the region’s energy system. It also opens the door to exploring new approaches to regional grid operations, including the potential for a Maritime Independent System Operator.

While the final model is yet to be developed, the MOU represents a meaningful shift toward breaking down provincial silos and finding new ways to improve reliability, make smarter infrastructure investments, and build a stronger electricity system for the region. 

This is a part of a broader wave of cooperation among the premiers from the national energy corridor agreement, now signed by every province except Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, to this week’s long-awaited federal funding for additional subsea transmission capacity between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Together, these efforts reflect a growing recognition that meeting rising electricity demands will require not only new clean energy projects, but greater collaboration on how we plan, build, and operate the grid. 

“This is exactly the kind of nation-building Canada should be racing toward,” said Ami Gagné, Manager, Clean Projects Initiatives at Climate Action Network Canada. “The Maritime provinces deserve real credit for exploring what could be the first-of-its-kind model for deeper regional grid cooperation in Canada. This is what a modern grid can look like: regional, connected, and built for growth that doesn’t compromise our climate future. Regional grid integration is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to get more renewable energy actually connected and delivering power.”

 “Affordability, reliability, and sustainability all point in the same direction. The federal government has set the ambition, and provinces are showing they are ready to build together to achieve Canada’s goal of doubling grid capacity by 2050. The next test is the federal budget: will it provide the scale of investment needed to turn this momentum into the infrastructure Canada needs?”

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Canada’s farthest-reaching network of organizations working on climate and energy issues, Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada is a coalition of close to 200 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our membership brings environmental groups together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives.

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Audrey Robillard, Bilingual Communications Coordinator
audreyrobillard@climateactionnetwork.ca

Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 2 July 2026:

In response to the Alberta government’s pipeline application today to the Major Projects Office, Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada, issued the following statement:

“We agree with the Prime Minister: we find ourselves in a treacherous moment of geopolitical instability. But in 2026, stability for our economy, for our communities, and for our planet will come from diversifying not only from an unstable trading partner, but from volatile fossil fuels. The “biblical weather” that delayed the announcement made the point for us: climate change itself is a growing source of instability. Continuing to expand fossil fuel production when Canadians are already living with climate chaos is simply dangerous.

“The lack of transparency and details around the public-private partnership announced tonight sounds a lot like Canadians will be signing a blank cheque. We’ve seen this movie too many times before, most recently with TMX: costs are socialized, and oil company shareholders rake in record profits. Meanwhile polling consistently shows that Canadians don’t want to subsidize the oil and gas industry.

“A route through the South of B.C. would cross many Indigenous nations’ territories. Their rights and sovereignty need to be upheld.

“There are clean energy nation-building projects at hand that can bring real benefits for workers and communities and set Canada up for success in a world that is adopting renewables and electric technologies at record speed and scale. That’s what Canada should focus on building—not another costly, divisive oil pipeline.”

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Canada’s farthest-reaching network of organizations working on climate and energy issues, Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada is a coalition of close to 200 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our membership brings environmental groups together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives.

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Vicky Coo, Communications Manager
comms@climateactionnetwork.ca

Audrey Robillard, Bilingual Communications Manager
audreyrobillard@climateactionnetwork.ca 

Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 9 June 2026:

In a cross-country and cross-partisan show of solidarity today on Parliament Hill, civil society experts, backed by more than 120 organizations from coast to coast, and MPs from three parties called out the federal government’s reckless plans to support a new oil pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast.

At today’s press conference, legal, health, and environmental experts highlighted the risks posed that a new pipeline would pose, in advance of Alberta’s July 1 deadline for submitting a pipeline proposal to the Major Project Office for fast-tracking.

Bloc québécois MP Patrick Bonin, NDP MP Leah Gazan, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May also spoke out against the pipeline plans.

More than 120 civil society organizations have signed on to an open letter expressing their solidarity against the imposition of new fossil fuel pipelines to the West Coast or anywhere in Canada.

As Asian markets accelerate their shift away from oil, a new oil pipeline would likely require large public subsidies to be viable. In recent polling from Liaison Stratégies in B.C. and Quebec swing ridings, 68 per cent of respondents opposed federal funding for a new pipeline, and six in ten indicated they would be less likely to vote for an MP who supported fossil fuel subsidies.

Today’s press conference comes after more than a year of environmental rollbacks. Most recently, the federal government proposed regulatory changes that would shred Canada’s environmental safety net, further enabling new pipelines to be fast-tracked without impact assessments, and allowed only a few weeks for public consultation. After widespread outcry, the government announced last Thursday that the consultation period would be extended to late July.

On Parliament Hill today, Emilia Belliveau, Program Manager, Energy Transition at Environmental Defence, said:

“There is no ‘good’ route for Alberta’s proposed bitumen pipeline. A new pipeline carrying a million barrels of oil a day, and the extraction required to fill it, will push Canada’s climate and nature targets even further out of reach. Failing to meet our targets is not an abstract loss. It will have devastating consequences for the ecosystems we rely on, and risks real harm to the places, nature, people and communities we love.”

Anne-Céline Guyon, Analyste climat-énergie, Nature Québec, said:

“Whether it’s an oil sands pipeline to the west or a gas pipeline to the east, all projects aimed at expanding fossil fuel production are on the wrong track. No project can serve Canada’s interests if it destroys what defines its identity: a deep connection to nature.” 

Anna Johnston, Staff lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law, said:

“Pipelines pose major risks to the climate, waterways and species Canadians cherish and rely on. Environmental laws are not red tape – they’re a safety net. The Carney government is proposing a wholesale shredding of that safety net. We are calling on the government to go back to the drawing board and make sure Canadians have the legal safeguards they need to know that development is working for them.”

Robb Barnes, Climate Program Director, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, said:

“Whether it’s a new gas pipeline to the West Coast or new LNG projects in Quebec, the Carney government seems to be reverting to the “drill, baby, drill” philosophy that characterized the Harper era.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment is calling on the Carney government to put the health and safety of Canadians at the top of its priorities. The health of our public finances is also at stake.

We must put a stop to the reckless expansion of oil and gas infrastructure.” 

Speakers and supporters from 12 organizations gathered on Parliament Hill afterwards for photos, holding banners underlining the message: “No to pipelines, not here or anywhere.”

Photos from today’s events are available in this folder.

The recording of the press conference can be viewed here.

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Canada’s farthest-reaching network of organizations working on climate and energy issues, Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada is a coalition of close to 200 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our membership brings environmental groups together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives.

For more information, contact:

Audrey Robillard, Bilingual Communications Coordinator
audreyrobillard@climateactionnetwork.ca

Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 8 June 2026:

Tomorrow, civil society organizations and Members of Parliament will hold a news conference on Parliament Hill to demonstrate cross-country and cross-partisan solidarity against new pipelines, as the July 1 deadline approaches for Alberta to submit an application for a new west coast oil pipeline to the Major Projects Office.

After a year of erosion of Canada’s climate policy framework, and with the threat of a new LNG pipeline looming in Quebec, experts are sounding the alarm.

New pipelines would endanger not only iconic wildlife such as orcas and caribou, but also Canadians’ health and pocketbooks. As oil demand destruction accelerates in Asian markets, and with no private sector proponent, a new pipeline is unlikely to be viable without large public subsidies. At the press conference, speakers will unpack the legal, economic, and public health risks of fast-tracking a new pipeline, as well as the consequences for local communities, nature, and climate.

When: 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Tuesday, June 9

Where: Foyer outside of the House of Commons Chamber / livestreamed on CPAC

Who: Speakers will include Bloc québecois MP Patrick Bonin, NDP MP Leah Gazan, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, as well as representatives from civil society organizations:

• Emilia Belliveau, Program Manager, Energy Transition, Environmental Defence
• Anne-Céline Guyon, Analyste climat-énergie, Nature Québec
• Anna Johnston, Staff lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law
• Robb Barnes, Climate Program Director, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

Following the press conference, groups will gather outside at 1 p.m. for photos, which will be made available to media.

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Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 4 June 2026:

Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac) is pleased to announce that Katie Gibbs—a longtime scientist, organizer, and environmentalist—has joined the team as the new National Policy Manager.

Katie has spent more than two decades championing bold climate action. After completing her Ph.D. at the University of Ottawa in Conservation Biology, Katie co-founded Evidence for Democracy, a national not-for-profit organization promoting science and the transparent use of evidence in government decision-making.

Before joining CAN-Rac, Katie worked to advance carbon pricing in Canada and internationally with Environment and Climate Change Canada. She lives in Ottawa’s Centretown with her young family and is happiest on her bike or foraging for urban fruit.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Katie on board,” said Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of CAN-Rac. “With crucial protections for our communities and environment under attack, Katie’s expertise in championing evidence-based decision-making and transparent, democratic processes is relevant now more than ever. We’re excited for her to bring her diverse background in science, organizing, and environmental policy to help build power for climate justice at this pivotal moment.”

As National Policy Manager, Katie will spearhead the development of CAN-Rac’s national policy strategy and positions, in collaboration with CAN-Rac’s network of nearly 200 member organizations from coast to coast.

CAN-Rac is Canada’s largest network of organizations working on climate and energy issues, bringing together environmental groups, trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives.

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For more information, contact:

Vicky Coo, Communications Manager
comms@climateactionnetwork.ca

Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 2 June 2026:

New polling shows that two in three Canadians support a tax on oil and gas companies’ excess profits, as oil and gas companies make record profits from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, while energy prices for consumers remain unaffordably high.

The national poll, conducted by Liaison Stratégies for Elbows Up For Climate and Climate Caucus, shows that 66 per cent of Canadians support an excess profits tax, with revenues used to help households lower their energy bills. Support is highest in Ontario (69 per cent) and Quebec (73 per cent), and three-quarters of Liberal voters (74 per cent) support the tax. Only 24 per cent of respondents oppose the proposal.

Research from the Centre for Future Work predicts that the oil supply disruption resulting from the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran will cost Canadian consumers anywhere from $50 to $129 billion, depending on how long the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, with inflation jumping to between 4.2 and 8.6 per cent—even though the oil and gas that Canadians use is not shipped through the Strait.

Four of the biggest oil and gas companies operating in Canada are 60 per cent U.S.-owned—meaning that these profits are going into the pockets of American shareholders, rather than being invested in Canada.

A tax of 75 per cent on profits 120 per cent above pre-crisis profit levels could generate about $40 billion, based on current prices, that could be returned to Canadians, while still leaving oil and gas companies with billions of dollars of profit.

In adopting an excess profits tax, Canada would be following the lead of peers such as the United Kingdom, which introduced one in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the European Union, which is also considering implementing an excess profits tax.

Quotes:

David Miller, Co-Chair, Elbows Up for Climate, former Mayor of Toronto:

“The investment required to build and deliver a robust, well-funded national resilience and recovery strategy is significant. The money exists, but it’s in the pockets of multi-national shareholders—predominantly American—benefitting from the windfall profits of war. It is imperative that Prime Minister Carney listens to the hundreds of municipal leaders calling for solutions to the growing, interconnected crises of affordability and climate impacts devastating our communities. Canadians are clear that they want nation-building climate policy, and it is clear there is plenty of money available if the companies causing the problem—these multinational oil giants—pay to solve it.”

Jared A. Walker, Executive Director, Canadians for Tax Fairness:

“Time and time again, polling shows that Canadians overwhelmingly support taxing the rich and corporate behemoths. An excess profits tax on oil and gas is a rarity in these times — a political policy that is broadly popular across partisan lines. This is because it clearly addresses two clear existential threats to everyday Canadians: the corporate greed eroding our quality of life and the climate crisis endangering our future.”

Hailey Asquin, Comms Lead, Common Horizon:

“At Common Horizon–a grassroots movement of young workers fighting back against corporate greed – we’ve had over 1000 conversations with people in our communities on the issue of a windfall profits tax. Those conversations on the doors have made it clear that taxing windfall corporate profits is a popular and common sense of a policy. Many people don’t even let us finish our pitch without taking the clipboard and signing! For the young workers who make up this movement, corporate greed defines what life is like for our generation: from the high cost of living to low wages to the climate crisis– all of us are struggling. We need our government to do more to ensure a dignified, livable future for young people in this country.”

Atiya Jaffar, Canada Country Manager, 350.org:

“If Carney is serious about tackling the cost-of-living crisis and building the renewable energy economy of the future, he should move quickly to implement a 75% tax on the excess profits of fossil fuel companies. It’s outrageous that oil and gas billionaires are making record profits while people across Canada and around the world grapple with soaring energy prices and inflation. This new polling makes it clear that a strong majority supports taxing these excess profits, now it’s up to Prime Minister Carney to pick a side: Big Oil or everyday Canadians.”

Anne-Céline, Analyste climat-énergie, Nature Québec: 

“Today, 73% of Quebecers are sending a strong message: it’s past time for oil and gas companies to stop cheerfully profiting off of the war in the Middle East to pad the pockets of shareholders while people in Quebec pay more and more to feed their families, pay rent, and move around. Taxing their excess profits and redistributing them fairly through measures that benefit both household budgets and the environment is the way forward.”

Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director, Climate Action Network Canada:

“American oil and gas companies are profiting off of war and destruction at an astounding scale while Canadians struggle to pay their bills. Our government needs to hold them accountable. An excess profits tax could pay for five to ten years of free public transit across the country—or four to five million heat pumps—to help Canadians shift away from dependence on volatile fossil fuels. Other countries are leading the way, and two-thirds of Canadians want an excess profits tax: it’s time for the federal government to get on board.”

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Elbows Up for Climate is an alliance of nearly 300 mayors and councillors representing more than half of all Canadians. They are advocating for clean nation-building projects that protect Canada from the dual crises of climate breakdown and economic instability, and make our communities safer, more affordable and prosperous. It is co-chaired by David Miller, Former Mayor of Toronto, and Director at C40 Center for City Climate Policy and Economy, and Former Mayor Valérie Plante of Montréal, with Climate Caucus as anchor partner.

Canada’s farthest-reaching network of organizations working on climate and energy issues, Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada is a coalition of close to 200 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our membership brings environmental groups together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives.

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Alex Cool-Fergus, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Climate Caucus
alex@climatecaucus.ca

Alexander Walsh, COPTICOM, Strategy and Public Relations
awalsh@copticom.ca

Vicky Coo, Communications Manager, Climate Action Network Canada
comms@climateactionnetwork.ca

Image: Person counting money for groceries (JulieAlexK/iStock.com)

Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 27 May 2026:

New polling shows that seven in ten voters (68 per cent) in key ridings for the Liberal Party in Quebec and British Columbia oppose any federal funding for an oil pipeline to the West Coast, or any other fossil fuel expansion projects.

The polling from Liaison Stratégies, commissioned by Climate Action Network Canada, surveyed voters in five ridings in B.C. and six ridings in Quebec which flipped between parties or saw close races in the 2025 federal election.

Less than two weeks ago, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith reaffirmed their commitment to an oil pipeline project and set a target for it to be approved by September 1, 2027—to strong opposition from B.C. Premier David Eby, Coastal First Nations, and civil society.

The pipeline currently has no private-sector proponent, and no real business case, as oil demand destruction accelerates in Asian markets. The project risks requiring large public subsidies to go ahead: for instance, the federal government spent more than $35 billion in direct funding for the TransMountain pipeline, which saw serious escalations in cost over the course of the project.

“The findings are clear: voters in critical ridings for the Liberal Party want the federal government to prioritize renewable energy, Indigenous consent, and solutions that shift our dependence away from costly oil and gas,” said Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada. “They do not want billions of taxpayer dollars wasted on a market failure of a pipeline—and they’ll hold their MPs accountable.

“Prime Minister Carney no longer seems to care about the reality of the climate crisis. The question is: does he care about the people who voted him into office?”

Key findings

Within the ridings surveyed:

• Seven in ten (71 per cent) respondents say they are concerned about climate change, including four in 10 who are very concerned. As well, 73 per cent are concerned about the impact of rising oil and gas prices on the cost of living
• More people oppose (50 per cent) than support (42 per cent) an Alberta-B.C. pipeline
• Fully 68 per cent oppose federal public dollars for a new pipeline or fossil fuel project, compared to 25 per cent who support it
  • In every riding polled, opposition to federal funding is above 60 per cent
• If an MP supported taxpayer money for a pipeline or fossil fuel project, 59 per cent say they would be less likely to vote for that MP. Only 13 per cent say they would be more likely
  • In every riding, at least half of voters say they would be less likely to support an MP who backed taxpayer money for a pipeline or fossil fuel project
• Seventy-three per cent say it’s important for affected Indigenous nations to give their consent before a project goes ahead
• Fifty-eight per cent want the federal government to prioritize federal funding for clean energy projects, compared to 12 per cent who think fossil fuel expansion should be prioritized, and 28 per cent who think it should be split equally
• Sixty-seven per cent oppose the rollbacks to environmental policies that the federal government has made over the last year
• Solutions that address both the climate and cost-of-living crises see high support:
  • Sixty-six per cent support a windfall tax on excess oil and gas profits
  • Seventy per cent support government policies and incentives to help households adopt clean technologies, such as heat pumps and electric vehicles, and improve energy efficiency
  • Seventy-three per cent support an East-West electricity grid supplied entirely by renewable energy and community- and Indigenous-owned projects

Methodology: Liaison surveyed a combined sample of 6,260 respondents across 11 federal ridings in British Columbia and Quebec in April 2026, using Interactive Voice Recording (IVR) technology. Participants were reached through random digit dialling (RDD) across both landline and cellular phone networks. 

The resulting data was weighted to match riding-level targets based on the 2021 Census, including age and gender. Results were then aggregated across the full set of surveyed ridings for the national report, with provincial breaks shown for British Columbia and Quebec. For the total sample, the margin of error is +/- 1.24 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Results may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Full polling results are available here.

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Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 15 May 2026:

Climate and civil society organizations across Canada are outraged at today’s announcement of the Canada-Alberta agreement to weaken industrial carbon pricing and double down on fast-tracking an oil pipeline to the west coast of British Columbia.

The agreement pushes back the deadline for Alberta to reach an effective carbon price of $130/tonne to 2040—a full decade later than previously planned, and now framed as a target rather than a minimum.

“With today’s announcement, Prime Minister Carney is taking a sledgehammer to one of the last remaining pillars of Canada’s climate plan,” said Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada.

“The prime minister came into office on a promise to strengthen Canada’s industrial carbon pricing system. He has positioned it as the backbone of his climate strategy, and used that to justify slashing other measures to hold polluters accountable. Instead, he is dismantling essential protections for ecosystems and communities and letting the American-owned oil and gas industry write its own rules, as Canadians face the rising cost of fossil fuels and climate disasters.

“Fast-tracking the construction of an oil pipeline in 2027—with no consent from First Nations, no private sector proponent, and amidst collapsing demand for fossil fuels in Asia—truly defies reason. The project would not be viable without public subsidies—and Canadians do not want their money wasted on another boondoggle of a pipeline.”

The deal comes after a year of continuous climate policy rollbacks. Most recently, the federal government announced regulatory changes that would gut Canada’s environmental protections and due process, and released an electricity strategy that would allow for more fossil fuels on the grid.

“The Carney government is making these changes in the name of building things. But failing to ask whether we are building the right things, the right way, will only create further obstacles and delays, while entrenching us in an economy of the past. That’s not what Canada needs—for competitiveness, security, and a healthy planet for future generations,” added Caroline Brouillette.

Quotes:

Thomas Green, senior manager climate solutions, David Suzuki Foundation:

“Carney promised his climate competitiveness strategy, built around industrial carbon pricing, would do the heavy lifting on emissions. Today’s announcement delivered the opposite. By agreeing to let Alberta reach $130 a tonne only by 2040 — a full decade behind the previous federal schedule — the government has handed the country’s largest-emitting sector a decade-long permission slip to keep polluting. With oil and gas responsible for nearly a third of Canada’s emissions, we not only bear the climate cost, but also lose the jobs, investment and opportunities from clean economy companies whose projects depend on a robust carbon price to attract investment capital.” 

Cathy Orlando, National Director Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada:

“Ottawa and Alberta’s proposed 2040 timeline, likely driven by separatist fears, risks leaving tens of billions and a low-carbon boom untapped. With the carbon price for oilsands at dimes per barrel, weak pricing sacrifices climate and economic progress. The Prime Minister’s first duty is to unite the country. Mark Carney may be keeping Alberta happy, but the rest of Canada would be paying the piper.”

Liz McDowell, Campaigns Director with Stand.earth:

“Any new bitumen pipeline and tanker megaproject would come at the sacrifice of what Canadians hold dear: clean water, clean air, a healthy environment, and the protection of endangered species. To get it built, the Carney government is trying to bulldoze key longstanding environmental protections, including protections for nature, endangered species, clean water and marine life. At the same time, he’s rolling back promises to make the biggest polluters in the country pay their fair share.” 

Atiya Jaffar, Canada Country Manager, 350.org:

“Today’s announcement launching a tar sands pipeline to the Salish Sea and undercutting the industrial carbon price is the final nail in the coffin for Canada’s climate policy. Between the finalized Alberta MOU and last week’s proposals to decimate environmental regulations, Carney is granting Big Oil everything on their wish list. Canadians will pay the price for these dangerous decisions for decades to come. 

“Mark our words: people across Canada will rise up to reject Carney’s plans to fast-track destruction. We will fight back to defend our communities, Indigenous rights, and our planet.”

Keith Stewart, senior energy strategist, Greenpeace Canada: 

“The only thing happening faster than the federal rollback of climate policies is the global renewable energy revolution that will turn all of these concessions to Big Oil into a massive lost opportunity to build a better, safer Canada. A greener world is a safer and more affordable world, so let’s not confuse what is good for oil companies with what is good for regular people.”

Dr Samantha Green, president, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment:

“The findings are clear and consistent: the vast majority of people in Canada are concerned about climate change, and want our leaders to act. And yet, we are witnessing the federal government’s sweeping dismantling of climate policy at precisely the moment the health impacts of the climate crisis are accelerating around us. Industrial carbon pricing is one of the most effective tools Canada has to reduce pollution. Weakening it while simultaneously expanding fossil fuel production sends a reckless message that short-term political deals matter more than the health and safety of people in Canada. The cost of these decisions will be measured in lives.”

Anna Johnston, Staff Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law:

“Prime Minister Carney’s ‘grand bargain’ with the Alberta government is a grand sham. Considering last week’s major project deregulation agenda, Canada loses everything in this deal – a strong price on pollution, endangered species protection, and its ability to safeguard its lakes, rivers, and coastlines. As communities across the country prepare for another season of wildfires and heat waves, doubling down on a pipeline while coming up short on the price of carbon is wildly unacceptable.”

Conor Curtis, Director of Communications, Sierra Club Canada:

“This says government is not willing to stand up for Canadians and they can’t negotiate effective deals. It says that at the end of the day they’ll do what U.S. oil corporations tell them to do even if it means less green Canadian jobs and more community-destroying wildfires. It says that when they can’t get results they’ll ‘flood the zone’ to try to cover it up. It tells those who want chaos, far more than they want an actual pipeline, that they can get everything they want, without limit, if they keep getting louder – it emboldens them. I saw government representatives tell some of the most climate-impacted that they cared about climate change. Anyone who cares about the ‘pragmatic good’ would not be scrapping green-jobs policies like industrial carbon pricing and cutting services that Canadians will need more than ever as climate impacts – like wildfires – get worse. If this is the Federal Government’s approach to one of the most catastrophic issues Canadian communities face, then it’s the ‘canary in the coal mine’ for doublespeak on other vital issues.”

Adam Scott, Executive Director, Shift: Action for Pension Wealth & Planet Health (Makeway):

“We are witnessing generational failure on climate and environmental leadership from Prime Minister Mark Carney. Following this plan would make Canada’s legally enshrined commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 impossible. This full-scale retreat on climate is a betrayal of Carney’s promises and commitments before and during the last election, and undermines his global reputation and Canada’s standing in the world.” 

Aly Hyder Ali, Senior Program Manager, Environmental Defence:

“Prime Minister Carney has completed his dismantling of Canada’s climate framework for oil and gas CEOs by gutting one of Canada’s last major climate tools. With this agreement, PM Carney has given free rein to polluters, made more room for fossil fuel expansion, and has put taxpayer money behind economically and environmentally risky projects. While the rest of the world is racing towards clean energy, PM Carney is intent on keeping Canada hooked on an outdated energy system.”

Louise Comeau, Coordinating Committee, Seniors for Climate:

“A world liveable for all requires we move beyond fossil fuels. Canada has obligations to future generations under the Paris Agreement. Later is too late.”

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Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 4 May 2026:

In last week’s Spring Economic Update, the Canadian government renewed its international climate finance pledge—a good first step amidst cuts to international assistance and delayed pledges from other Global North countries.

The renewal follows long advocacy from Canadian civil society, including the Canadian Coalition on Climate Change and Development (C4D), which sent a letter to Prime Minister Carney calling for a timely and ambitious renewal of Canada’s international climate finance commitment. The previous envelope, dedicating $5.3 billion for climate finance over five years, ended on March 31, 2026.

International climate finance is crucial to support Global South countries, which hold the least responsibility for causing the climate crisis, in facing its worst impacts. Providing climate finance is a legal obligation under the Paris Agreement for Global North countries like Canada.

The details matter, and C4D will continue working to ensure that Canada’s allocation and delivery of climate finance meet the needs of Global South partners, and center transparency, accountability, and collaboration with civil society.

Further analysis:

• Canada’s renewed climate finance commitment promises:
  • $3.0 billion over 5 years to Global Affairs Canada, starting 2026-2027;
  • $167.9 million over 5 years to Environment Climate Change Canada, starting 2026-2027; and
  • $2.0 billion to FinDev Canada over 3 years starting 2028-9, and $732 million to expand its concessional finance facility.
  • It also sets an overall goal to mobilize $13 billion in climate-related support to developing countries over the next five years.
• The new pledge recognizes the role of international climate finance in enabling emissions reductions, adaptation, building economic resilience, and sustainable development, and recommits to using climate finance to support vulnerable countries, marginalized, and vulnerable groups (including women, girls, and rural communities).
• However, critical details are still missing, including the ratio of grants vs. loans that will make up the pledge; the percentage of the pledge allocated between adaptation, loss and damage, and mitigation; and the continuation of programs and partnerships with Canadian civil society that lead to impact on the ground for climate adaptation and sustainable development.
• The effectiveness of Canada’s climate finance depends on getting these details right. Grant-based and high-quality finance is crucial to avoid exacerbating the debt burden on Global South countries. Canada must strengthen its practice of setting percentages for the portion of the pledge that will be delivered through grants, and only grants must be used to address adaptation and loss and damage needs.
• C4D continues to advocate for Canada to allocate 40% of financing to adaptation, 40% to mitigation, and 20% to loss and damage.
• Financing should be new and additional to funds supporting complementary development goals, and avoid double-counting.
• While this contribution is a good first step, Canada continues to fall short of its fair share of global climate finance. Despite being among the world’s top cumulative and per-capita emitters, Canada’s contributions to international climate finance remain significantly below what equity-based assessments suggest it should provide—undermining global trust and weakening support for vulnerable countries facing the worst climate impacts.
• As Canada increases the utilization of domestic development finance institutions like FinDev to deliver climate finance, they must be equipped with robust safeguards, strengthened accountability and transparency measures, and deepened collaboration with civil society, and complemented by high-quality public finance.
• C4D is optimistic that this renewal shows that the government understands how climate finance also advances Canada’s national priorities of trade and collective security, beyond the legal and moral obligation.
• With Canada’s renewed commitment, other Global North contributing countries must raise their ambition and accelerate the delivery of climate finance ahead of COP31.

Quotes:

Soomin Han, Co-Chair, Canadian Coalition on Climate Change and Development, and Climate Finance Policy Analyst, Climate Action Network Canada:

“Canada’s renewed international climate finance pledge is the first step towards meeting Canada’s obligations under the Paris Agreement. Now the hard work begins to ensure that the delivery of the finance is high-quality and predictable—that it meets the needs of Global South countries and does not contribute to the already devastating debt crisis. C4D remains committed and ready to work with the government to ensure that civil society’s expertise in partnering with frontline communities is reflected in Canada’s delivery of climate finance.”

Andy Harrington, Executive Director, Canadian Foodgrains Bank:

“Canada’s welcome renewed commitment to international climate finance must come alongside a renewed commitment to keeping vulnerable populations at the heart of this work.  In these tumultuous times, and with increasingly frequent and severe weather events as leading drivers of food insecurity worldwide, Canadian Foodgrains Bank stands ready to help build resilience in some of the worst affected areas – until all are fed.”

Andréanne Martel, Director of the ReSea Project, Mission inclusion:

“The economic update recognizes that climate change does not affect everyone in the same way. Women, girls, and the most vulnerable communities bear a heavier burden. This is the very foundation of climate inclusion: ensuring that those who experience the most severe impacts participate in decisions and solutions.

“This recognition must now be reflected in programs: in their design, in their duration, and in mechanisms that ensure the full participation of affected communities.”

Justin Murgai, CEO , WaterAid Canada:

“WaterAid Canada welcomes Canada’s renewed climate finance commitment and the signal of continued leadership at a critical time. The real test now is whether this investment is directed toward the foundational systems that determine if adaptation delivers, where resilience is built or lost. The current investment approach prioritizes what is immediately bankable yet risks underinvestment in systems that deliver the highest long-term economic returns.

“Climate resilience is ultimately built through systems that sustain people, productivity, and economic stability. Investment in water security and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is not a social add-on; it is core risk-reducing infrastructure that protects livelihoods, stabilizes markets, and lowers future public costs.

“We urge the Government of Canada to invest in such systems or risk not realizing the full economic returns of climate finance.”

Rev. Michael Pryse, Interim Executive Director, Canadian Lutheran World Relief:

“Canada’s renewed climate finance pledge — and the $3 billion in public funding through Global Affairs Canada — is a serious commitment at a moment when too many countries are walking away from the great challenge of our time. Now Canada has to be just as serious about the communities who are already facing the worst of climate change, where private finance can’t reach. Public, grant-based adaptation funding delivered through partners on the ground is what will save livelihoods and build resilience in the communities on the frontlines of this global challenge.”

Nirvana Mujtaba, Women’s Rights Policy and Advocacy Specialist, Oxfam Canada:

“Canada’s climate finance commitment strengthens its global leadership however falls short of the ambition required to confront the scale of climate inequality today. Importantly, the Statement recognized that climate change disproportionately impacts women and girls – we expect the government to put action behind this recognition.

“Further we urge the government to deliver funding largely as grants, so as not to increase already unsustainable debt levels. Finally, while this commitment is welcome, Canada could also scale-up funding by implementing a windfall profit tax on fossil fuel producers, ensuring they pay their fair share to unlock the public resources needed to build an economy that puts people and the planet before profit.”

Jean-Philippe Marcoux, CEO, Socodevi:

“Canada’s new commitments give us renewed hope at a time when global climate leadership is under strain. However, for these commitments to truly leverage private investment, Canada will need to focus on continuity: consolidating proven initiatives, including through Partnering for Climate (P4C), and giving them the means to scale rather than starting from scratch. It is in this spirit that projects such as Natur’ELLES in Senegal, which strengthens democratic ecosystem governance, and Reverdecer in Colombia, a new regenerative agriculture initiative ready to mobilize additional capital through carbon markets, can contribute to high-quality, transparent, and accountable climate finance.”

Barbara Grantham, President & CEO, CARE Canada:

“Canada’s renewed climate finance pledge is a welcome signal that Canada remains committed to doing its part at a time when global climate leadership is urgently needed. Now, the focus must be on delivery: ensuring climate finance is transparent, accountable, and invests in solutions that are designed and driven by the people most affected by climate change, including women and girls. CARE Canada looks forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada and partners to help turn this commitment into meaningful impact.”

Anjali Appadurai, Director, Padma Centre for Climate Justice:

“With this new climate finance pledge, the Carney government has demonstrated that they are still committed to the critical work of a global energy transition. While this pledge falls far short of Canada’s fair share of the global effort, we remain committed to working with this government to keep climate-vulnerable communities at the core of climate finance.”

Beth Lorimer, Ecological Justice Coordinator, KAIROS Canada:

“KAIROS welcomes Canada’s renewed climate finance commitment as an important signal, but what matters now is how those funds are delivered. Climate finance must be grant-based, responsive to the gendered impacts of the climate crisis, and avoid deepening the unjust debt burdens many countries already face. We look forward to working alongside partners and the Canadian government to ensure this support advances gender equity alongside climate justice and sustainable development.”

Gerardo Almaguer, CEO, Desjardins International Development (DID):

“We commend Canada’s leadership and its renewed commitment to international climate finance, a strong signal in a global context where ambition and predictability are needed more than ever.

“This commitment aligns with Desjardins International Development’s new sustainable development policy and our climate ambition, which place impact, inclusion, and resilience at the heart of our work. The funds announced pave the way for innovative projects and high-impact investments, particularly in sustainable agriculture, clean energy, green buildings, WASH, and inclusive finance. By mobilizing its extensive network of partners and on-the-ground expertise, DID will ensure that Canadian funding translates into tangible and sustainable impact for people around the world, while generating positive benefits for our partners here at home.”

Philippe Dongier, Executive Director, CECI – Centre for International Studies and Cooperation:

“Canada’s sustained commitment to climate finance sends a strong signal in a global context marked by concerning rollbacks. This commitment can consolidate major gains, particularly those of the Partnerships for Climate (P4C) program, built on adaptation and restoration approaches that deliver strong co-benefits for both communities and biodiversity. Continuing P4C will pave the way for a new generation of innovative solutions, positioning nature as a resilient, bankable environmental asset while feeding a strategic pipeline for FinDev Canada’s investments.”

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