No comprehensive federal accounting exists for public financial support of fossil fuels
OTTAWA – The Green Party of Canada is calling for full transparency on fossil fuel subsidies after the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) was unable to complete a Green Party request to estimate the total amount of federal support for fossil fuel-related activities.
On March 30, the Green Party submitted a request to the PBO for a comprehensive costing of all federal financial support for fossil fuels and fossil fuel-related projects—support that is often dispersed across a wide range of departments and agencies. This included funding through agencies such as Export Development Canada, the Strategic Innovation Fund, the Canada Infrastructure Bank, and various regional development agencies.
In a letter released today, Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux responded:
“I regret to inform you that we are unable to complete the requested cost estimate for the elimination of all federal government financial support for fossil fuels due to insufficient time and a lack of pertinent information.”
“Canadians deserve to know the truth about where their tax dollars are going,” said Jonathan Pedneault, Green Party co-leader and candidate in Outremont. “Billions in public funds are quietly flowing into fossil fuels every year through opaque channels. The refusal or inability of agencies to share information with the PBO highlights the urgent need for transparency and accountability.”
The Green Party notes that while the PBO has successfully produced 17 costed estimates of its platform proposals—more than any other party—this specific request could not be fulfilled because the weaving of fossil fuel subsidies throughout the government of Canada is so pervasive and thorough that it will require an extensive study, not possible during a short campaign.
“The PBO has been incredibly helpful in giving Canadians a clear look at our platform numbers,” said Elizabeth May, Green Party co-leader and MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands. “But when it comes to fossil fuel subsidies, it’s like shining a flashlight into a dense fog. These subsidies are buried deep in government programs and deliberately hidden from public view. That’s unacceptable.”
May also pointed out that the hiding of fossil fuel subsidies is not new:
“The deliberate obfuscation from Finance Canada in tracking down fossil fuel subsidies was laid bare when former Auditor General, the late Michael Ferguson, and former Commissioner of the Environment, Julie Gelfand, held a joint press conference. They wanted the public to know that for the first time in the history of the Auditor General’s Office, a federal department refused to hand over its calculations—when the Auditor General asked Finance Canada for its estimates of fossil fuel subsidies,” noted May.
The Greens are committed to ending all fossil fuel subsidies and redirecting those funds toward a just transition for workers and communities, clean energy development, and climate resilience.
The Party intends to take further steps to secure a full public accounting. “If elected, Green MPs will push for a motion in Parliament mandating the PBO to prepare a comprehensive report on all fossil fuel subsidies in Canada,” added May. “We need to pull back the curtain on this pollution funding once and for all.”
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