CALGARY,
AB, June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - As the
largest oil sands companies in Canada, and members of the Pathways Alliance,
we are steadfast in our commitment to environmental performance and
operational emissions reduction. To support our commitment, we have
strived to be transparent about our actions and plans, which we
believe is critical to building trust and driving improvement.
![Pathways Alliance (CNW Group/Pathways Alliance) Pathways Alliance (CNW Group/Pathways Alliance)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2444350/Pathways_Alliance_Competition_Act_amendments_silence_Canadian_bu.jpg)
However, our ability to remain transparent has been
significantly compromised as a result of Bill C-59, which was
recently passed and includes amendments to the Competition Act
related to environmental and climate disclosure. With these
changes, it is possible that certain public representations by a
business about the benefits of the work it is doing to protect or
restore the environment or address climate change will violate the
Competition Act and subject it to significant financial penalties
unless the business can adequately and properly substantiate their
claims according to "internationally recognized methodology," which
may or may not exist.
Creating a public disclosure standard that is so vague as to
lack meaning and that relies on undefined "internationally
recognized methodology" opens the door for frivolous litigation,
particularly by private entities who will now be empowered to
directly enforce this new provision of the Competition Act. This
represents a serious threat to freedom of communication.
These amendments create significant uncertainty and risk for all
Canadian companies regardless of sector, that communicate publicly
about environmental performance, including actions to address
climate change. As a result, we have been forced to remove
information on environmental and climate performance, progress, and
plans from our websites, social media platforms and other
communications channels at this time. These actions are a direct
consequence of this legislation and are not related to our
commitments or belief in the accuracy of our environmental
communications.
The result of this legislation, which has been quickly put in
place with little or no consultation, is to silence Canadian
businesses taking climate action. We will continue to impress on
the federal government the need for clarity regarding these new
amendments so that we and all other industries can share the
important work we are doing to preserve and restore the environment
and address climate change.
/signed/
Scott Stauth
President, Canadian Natural
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Brad Corson
Chairman, President and CEO, Imperial
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Jon McKenzie
President and CEO, Cenovus Energy
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Darlene Gates
President and CEO, MEG Energy
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Bijan Agarwal
President, ConocoPhillips Canada
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Rich Kruger
President and CEO, Suncor Energy
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Kendall Dilling
President, Pathways Alliance
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Advisory
Cautionary Statement: Statements of future events or conditions
in this press release, including projections, targets,
expectations, estimates, and business plans are forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words
such as achieve, aspiration, believe, anticipate, intend, propose,
plan, goal, seek, project, predict, target, estimate, expect,
forecast, vision, strategy, outlook, schedule, future, continue,
likely, may, should, will and/or similar references to outcomes in
future periods. Forward-looking statements in this press release
include, but are not limited to, references to the viability,
timing and impact of GHG emission reduction strategies; support for
GHG emission reduction pathways from the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada; the ability to enable GHG emission
reductions from oil production and preserve economic contribution
from the industry; the deployment of technologies to reduce GHG
emissions; the ability to create jobs, accelerate development of
the clean tech sector, provide benefits for other sectors and help
maintain Canadians' quality of life; and making economic
investments to ensure a successful transition of Canada to a net zero world and delivering long
term value to shareholders. All references to GHG emission
reduction in this announcement apply to emissions from oil sands
operations (defined as scope 1 and scope 2 emissions).
Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations,
estimates, projections and assumptions at the time the statements
are made. Actual future results, including expectations and
assumptions concerning: demand growth and energy source, supply and
mix; amount and timing of emissions reductions; the adoption and
impact of new facilities or technologies, including on reductions
to GHG emissions; project plans, timing, costs, technical
evaluations and capacities, and the ability to effectively execute
on these plans and operate assets; that any required support for
the pathways from the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada will be provided; applicable laws and
government policies, including climate change and restrictions in
response to COVID-19; production rates, growth and mix; general
market conditions; and capital and environmental expenditures,
could differ materially depending on a number of factors. These
factors include global, regional or local changes in supply and
demand for oil, natural gas, and petroleum and petrochemical
products and the resulting price, differential and margin impacts;
political or regulatory events, including changes in law or
government policy and actions in response to COVID-19; the receipt,
in a timely manner, of regulatory and third-party approvals
including for new technologies; lack of required support from the
Government of Alberta and the
Government of Canada;
environmental risks inherent in oil and gas exploration and
production activities; environmental regulation, including climate
change and GHG regulation and changes to such regulation;
availability and allocation of capital; availability and
performance of third-party service providers; unanticipated
technical or operational difficulties; project management and
schedules and timely completion of projects; reservoir analysis and
performance; unexpected technological developments; the results of
research programs and new technologies, and ability to bring new
technologies to commercial scale on a cost-competitive basis;
operational hazards and risks; general economic conditions,
including the occurrence and duration of economic recessions; and
other factors referenced by the companies' in their most recent
respective annual reports and management's discussion and analysis,
as applicable.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some
that are similar to other oil and gas companies and some that are
unique to the companies. Actual results may differ materially from
those expressed or implied by its forward-looking statements and
readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. The
companies undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements contained in this press release, except as required by
applicable law.
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SOURCE Pathways Alliance