A group of eight residents from Northeast British Columbia has filed a formal application with the federal Competition Bureau, calling for an investigation into the David Suzuki Foundation’s use of allegedly false and misleading imagery in its anti-natural gas campaigns.
The complaint centers on the repeated use of a two-decade-old aerial photo of natural gas wells in Wyoming. The residents claim the image is being used to falsely represent current development in B.C.’s Montney Formation — a major gas-producing region responsible for roughly half of Canada’s natural gas output.
According to the group, the Foundation has used the image on its website, social media, reports, and in fundraising appeals, despite acknowledging in some instances that the photo is not from British Columbia. They argue this misleads the public and donors, in violation of Section 74.01(1) of the Competition Act.
The complaint, filed under Sections 9 and 10, calls on the Bureau to investigate and impose remedies, including stopping the use of the image, issuing corrective statements, and returning any money raised through misleading representations.
Spokesperson Deena Del Giusto says the energy workers of Northeast B.C. deserve “truth, not scare tactics,” and are asking for accountability from the Foundation.
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