MPs from across most of the political parties have come together to organize a National Day of Action to End Fossil Fuel Subsidies on Tuesday, May 3rd.
For context, MP Laurel Collins introduced a study on fossil fuel subsidies at the Environment Committee and wants to build in some public pressure around this work too. Based on the study’s committee sessions so far, and the recent approval of the CCUS tax credit, there is concern that the government will attempt to define subsidies for “clean” reforms to the oil and gas sector as efficient, exempting it from their 2023 subsidy phase-out. This is a dangerous loophole that prolongs fossil fuel dependency, redirects funds away from a just transition and toward profitable oil and gas companies.
This day of action is an opportunity to send a strong message to government: we won’t stand for greenwashed false solutions. Real climate action is grounded in science, which means that all subsidies, public financing, and other financial supports to the oil and gas sector must be off the table by the end of this year.
Town Hall on Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies — 7-8 pm EST (4-5 pm PT) on Tuesday May 3rd
This virtual town hall event will be moderated by Climate Action Network Canada and open a space for the public to ask MPs questions about the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies. This is a critical opportunity to push the government to boost ambition and accelerate the phase-out timeline. This town hall is also an opportunity to talk about what we can gain from ending fossil fuel subsidies by reinvesting funds toward a just transition and renewables.
This is a cross-partisan event, with representation from the NDP, Bloc, Greens and Liberals.
How you can help: Promote the townhall on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and on email listservs. See attached graphics (post and story format available).
Example copy: Join the National Day of Action to End Fossil Fuel Subsidies with a virtual MP town hall moderated by @CANRacCanada! It’s time to #StopFundingFossils. Register now for your spot the discussion: https://us02web.
Twitter Storm — all day on May 3rdHundreds of tweets to Canada’s Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will help draw attention to this issue at a critical time in the federal study on fossil fuel subsidies.
How you can help:
Tweet at Minister Guilbeault, Freeland and Wilkinson on the Day of Action. Want inspiration? Here’s a click-to-tweet link, or check out the Twitter Storm Guide put together by the MPs. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #StopFundingFossils
It would also be amazing if you could invite your network to join the twitter storm!
Write your own thread on fossil fuel subsidies — this is a great way to show off research you’ve done already, or amplify the work of other orgs
If you know of a journalist or media outlet that might be interested in the day of action, feel free to tag them in your tweets