A greenwashing complaint will soon be filed against Énergir at the Competition Bureau by a coalition bringing together environmental, union and citizen organizations. Accusations rejected by the main distributor of natural gas in Quebec, who speaks of unnecessary relentlessness against him.
According to the Let’s Get Out the Gas! coalition, two Énergir advertising messages constitute greenwashing within the meaning of Canada’s Competition Act, amended last July and which specifically targets misleading declarations and allegations regarding the environment of businesses. .
Énergir would thus claim on its website and in its advertisements that it can supply its customers’ devices with 100% renewable natural gas (RNG). The coalition points in particular to an advertising message published in the electronic edition of The Presswhich mentions: “Énergir goes even further and has committed, since April 2024, to ensuring that any new connection to its network is powered by 100% renewable energy. »
For Sortons le gaz!, this commitment would be impossible to keep and would constitute a “clear case of greenwashing”, because the gas distributed to all customers passes through a single system of pipelines and pipes. Under the new provisions of the Competition Act, Énergir must in fact be able to substantiate its allegations. However, this would simply be impossible, according to the coalition.
In addition, the bulk of Énergir’s marketing and public relations activities would be centered on RNG, while the company distributes 98% of fossil energy, constituting a new example of greenwashing.
“Énergir is deceiving its Quebec customers, this is unacceptable. Consumers are a little cheated, duped. Today we want to hold Énergir responsible for its words and actions,” says Emmanuelle Rancourt, coordinator of the Let’s Get Out the Gas! coalition.
The group will therefore continue to gather evidence and prepare a formal complaint “if nothing changes in Énergir’s actions”, warns Mme Rancourt.
In doing so, the Let’s Get Out the Gas! coalition, which brings together organizations such as the Quebec Association of Physicians for the Environment, Équiterre, Greenpeace and the David Suzuki Foundation, hopes that appropriate measures will be taken against Énergir and that compensation will be provided. offered to its customers. The planned sanctions can now reach 10 million.
“Useless persistence”
In interview at DutyCatherine Houde, executive director responsible for public, government and community affairs at Énergir, believes that the complaint being prepared by Sortons le gaz! is pointless harassment against the gas distributor.
In June 2023, the coalition had already filed a complaint for false or misleading representations made by Énergir with the Consumer Protection Office (OPC). A complaint which has not yet resulted in a judgment or a return from the OPC, says Mme Houde.
The latter also considers the coalition’s new complaint counterproductive, particularly in the current context marked by the return to power of Donald Trump on the other side of the border, which would rather require us to act “with unity”.
She believes that Énergir has nothing to reproach itself for and says she is confident, both with regard to communications and with regard to the evidence underlying the company’s commitments.
-“Énergir is not in the habit of making commitments that are not well documented,” she says.
Mme Houde also confirms the company’s commitment that any new connection to the Énergir network is now powered by renewable energy.
“According to the parameters of the program approved by the Energy Board, we respect [cet engagement] “, she defends herself, reaffirming the company’s commitments to transparency, which for example includes the portion of RNG purchased on its customers’ invoices.
Mme Houde, however, sees the complaint of Let’s get out the gas! in a good way, provided that it pushes the world to talk to each other. She also calls on the coalition to collaborate more with Énergir.
“Going there with complaints is not the right way to do it,” she concludes.
Some companies have already rectified the situation
According to Geneviève Paul, general director of the Quebec Environmental Law Center (CQDE), several Canadian companies have already changed the wording on their website or in their advertisements to avoid being accused of greenwashing.
The latter refers in particular to New Ways Alliance, a coalition of large Canadian companies in the tar sands industry which would have revised the content of its website as well as its social media accounts in response to the new law against greenwashing.
And according to Mme Paul, other Canadian companies are reportedly in the process of seeking advice to adapt their communications and comply with the new provisions of the Competition Act.
“Typically, these companies aren’t necessarily going to brag about it,” she explains. The latter also specifies that companies in Alberta plan to challenge this law, on the grounds that it would infringe on freedom of expression.
“For the moment, it doesn’t change anything, the law applies,” concluded M.me Paul.
Precision: A passage from this text reporting the words of Catherine Houde was modified after publication. Mme Houde confirmed the company’s commitment that any new connection to the Énergir network is today powered by renewable energy, and not every connection.
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