OTTAWA – Early this morning, two activists locked themselves to a replica oil pumpjack in the driveway of Stornoway, the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition in Ottawa, unveiling a strong message: Poilievre: Protecting polluters, betraying people. The oil jack, surrounded by burned forest and flames, was painted with charcoal made from wood burned in the 2021 wildfire that destroyed the town of Lytton, British Columbia to symbolize the costs of climate inaction [1]. 

As the Conservative Party of Canada seeks to trigger a federal election, Greenpeace activists are drawing attention to how Pierre Poilievre’s anti-climate agenda would protect polluters over people, and ruin our last chance to achieve Canada’s goal under the 2030 Paris Agreement deadline.

“Poilievre’s promises to give free passes to big oil and gas companies is a threat to our communities and climate, and a betrayal of regular Canadians. While Poilievre is attending fundraisers hosted by his rich polluters friends, the rest of us are struggling even harder to make ends meet because we must now also pay the costs of unnatural climate disasters like heat waves, wildfires and floods. If Poilievre really cared about people and fairness, he would not abandon communities to deal with climate impacts on their own so that his friends in the oil industry can make a few more years of excess profits.” said Keith Stewart, Senior Energy Strategist at Greenpeace Canada and one of the activists locked to the oil pump jack.

Poilievre and the Conservatives have a long history of opposing all significant federal measures to address climate change, while advocating for an expansion of oil and gas production. If elected, Poilievre will not only use his power to let the biggest polluters off the hook, he has promised to grant them their wish list, at the expense of Canadians’ future [2].  Greenpeace revealed last month that Poilievre – who told corporate Canada to fire their lobbyists because he will only listen to the people – organized a fundraiser where Big Oil’s top lobbyists paid $1,650-a-plate for a private meeting with him [3].

“It’s not too late to avoid the worst impacts of climate change while building a safer and more affordable future, but that requires making the biggest polluters do their fair share. We are not going to stand by while any would-be Prime Minister rips up our climate protection plan in favor of a ‘burn, baby, burn’ strategy that benefits only ultra-wealthy oil interests.” said Stewart.

Activists said they will not leave until Poilievre produces a credible climate protection plan, or admits his true agenda is to protect polluters over people. Greenpeace Canada is urging everyone who cares about the climate, nature, and the future of our communities to demand that Poilievre and all political parties protect people not polluters in the next election. 

ENDS

Notes to editor:

Photos of Greenpeace action can be found in the Greenpeace media library (they will be uploaded throughout the day);

[1] The pump jack, which symbolizes the costs of climate inaction, was commissioned, and created by artist Jonah K. For more information about the artist: www.jonah-k.com;

[2] Backgrounder about Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada anti-climate policy history;

[3] Big Oil pays big bucks for private meeting with Poilievre.

For more information, please contact:

On-site: 

Laura Bergamo, Communications campaigner, Greenpeace Canada

[email protected]; +1 438 928-5237

From the office:

Dina Ni, Communications campaigner, Greenpeace Canada

[email protected]; +1 416 820-2148