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Jason Kenney and Doug Schweitzer speak at podiums

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Fighting for fairness: Challenging Jason Kenney’s biased inquiry into “anti-Alberta” activities

Ecojustice Canada Society v. Alberta

December 5, 2019

Ecojustice went to court to challenge Premier Jason Kenney’s controversial public inquiry into “anti-Alberta” activities.

We said the inquiry was nothing more than a political exercise, aimed at silencing and targeting environmental organizations and distracting Canadians from the climate crisis on their doorstep.

In November 2019, our lawyers filed an application in the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench saying the Alberta public inquiry was unlawful and should be struck down. Ecojustice challenged the inquiry on three grounds:

  • First, that the government brought the inquiry for improper, political purposes
  • Second, that the inquiry proceedings raise serious concerns around bias and unfairness
  • Third, that the inquiry sets out to deal with issues that don’t actually fall under provincial jurisdiction

Unfortunately, on May 14, 2021, the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench ruled that the controversial and beleaguered public inquiry into “anti-Alberta” activities could proceed.

After four deadline extensions, a two-year delay and widespread criticism to the government, the inquiry’s final report was released by the Alberta government on October 21, 2021.

The report contained no new information, and confirmed what Ecojustice had said from the outset of the process: The inquiry was a witch hunt launched solely to intimidate people and organizations who — in response to the threats the climate crisis poses to our health, environment, and economy — are standing up to rampant development of oil and gas in Alberta.

Instead of taking action to protect Albertans from the climate crisis, the province wasted $3.5 million on a partisan stunt that will serve no purpose in the long run.

Ecojustice is committed to holding governments accountable, standing up for principles of fairness, fighting climate change, and supporting our allies in the province.

Kenney’s public inquiry aimed to sow division, intimidate organizations and individuals who challenge the pace and scope of oil and gas development, and distract Canadians from the climate crisis.

Why? Because fanning the flames of a conspiracy theory about U.S. funding and blaming others is easier and more politically advantageous than accepting the science and facing the climate crisis head-on.

Kenney’s inquiry was never about fact-finding. If the premier wanted a legitimate investigation, he would have ensured the process was fair and unbiased — and he would not just target environmental organizations. He would examine foreign funding both against and for Alberta’s oil and gas industry.

Ecojustice challenged the inquiry because we believed it could not legally go ahead — and because, in the midst of a climate crisis, we cannot afford to let politicians like Jason Kenney play politics with our future.

What this outcome means

We lost the court case, but we won the public debate. The Alberta government’s public inquiry lost all credibility.

Most importantly, our court case successfully neutralized the premier’s primary goal: to target and silence Canadians and Canadian charities who want to break the fossil fuel industries’ stranglehold on Alberta’s climate and energy policy.

The court’s decision set a concerning precedent that may encourage other governments to use public resources and processes to silence public debate. Still, Ecojustice is – now more than ever – resolved to continue using the power of the law to fight for a safe environment for everyone in Canada.

Where does Ecojustice’s funding come from?

Ecojustice is proud to be 100 per cent funded by individuals and organizations who share our vision of a thriving environment, safe climate, and healthy communities protected by effective, well-enforced laws.

We have nothing to hide. That’s why we decided to take an in-depth look at our funding in this blog.

Read “The facts on Ecojustice funding” here.

Learn more: On Feb. 4, 2021, Ecojustice hosted a webinar titled “Fighting for fairness Challenging Premier Kenney’s inquiry into ‘Anti-Alberta’ activities,” here. Watch the conversation here.

Oct 2021
Jason Kenney
press release

Alberta government finally releases contentious public inquiry report, Ecojustice reacts

For immediate release: October 21, 2021 CALGARY/TERRITORIES OF THE BLACKFOOT AND PEOPLES OF TREATY 7, HOME TO MÉTIS NATION OF ALBERTA, REGION III – Ecojustice says the report on Jason Kenney’s controversial public inquiry into “anti-Alberta” activities, which was finally released today after a two-year delay, was a colossal waste of time and money and sets a bad precedent for public inquiries in Canada.
May 2021
Jason Kenney
press release

Alberta public inquiry allowed to proceed, decision sets concerning precedent

Premier Jason Kenney’s controversial and beleaguered public inquiry into “anti-Alberta” activities allowed to proceed CALGARY/TERRITORIES OF THE BLACKFOOT AND PEOPLES OF TREATY 7, HOME TO MÉTIS NATION OF ALBERTA, REGION III – Ecojustice is disappointed by today’s ruling from Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench giving Premier Jason Kenney’s controversial and beleaguered public inquiry into “anti-Alberta”.
Feb 2021
Jason Kenney stands in front of a wildfire
press release

Ecojustice heads to court to challenge Alberta public inquiry

CALGARY/TERRITORIES OF THE BLACKFOOT AND PEOPLES OF TREATY 7, HOME TO MÉTIS NATION OF ALBERTA, REGION III – Ecojustice will appear in the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench to challenge the controversial public inquiry on “anti-Alberta” energy campaigns as part of a two-day hearing, taking place Thursday and Friday.
Feb 2021
Jason Kenney and Doug Schweitzer speak at podiums
press release

Alberta public inquiry: Ecojustice to appear in court Thursday and Friday

CALGARY/TERRITORIES OF THE BLACKFOOT AND PEOPLES OF TREATY 7, HOME TO MÉTIS NATION OF ALBERTA, REGION III – Lawyers from Ecojustice will appear in the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench on Feb.
Jan 2021
A large, still lake spans wide to distant snow capped mountains.
blog

What’s happening in Alberta?

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and his government are on the defensive, fighting multiple lawsuits and on the receiving end of public outcry over poor environmental decision-making.
Jan 2021
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney stands outside and speaks into a microphone.
press release

Climate denier reports underscore Alberta inquiry’s illegitimacy

CALGARY/TERRITORIES OF THE BLACKFOOT AND PEOPLES OF TREATY 7, HOME TO MÉTIS NATION OF ALBERTA, REGION III – The latest update from the commissioner of Alberta’s “Public Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns” includes climate denier reports and underscores the inquiry’s total lack of legitimacy, Ecojustice says.
Nov 2020
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney stands outside and speaks into a microphone.
press release

Ecojustice undeterred in fight against ‘Anti-Alberta’ public inquiry

CALGARY – Ecojustice executive director Devon Page made the following statement in response to the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench decision to dismiss an injunction application to suspend the provincial government’s Public Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns until after a hearing on the inquiry’s legality can be held: “The court’s decision, while disappointing, won’t stop.
Nov 2020
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney stands outside and speaks into a microphone.
blog

Opinion: Shut down inquiry on anti-Alberta campaigns until court ruling

After more than a year, millions of taxpayer dollars and nothing to show for it, the deadline for reporting back on Premier Jason Kenney’s toxic public inquiry into “anti-Alberta” charity activities has been pushed back yet again, this time into January 2021.
Jul 2020
Jason Kenney stands in front of a wildfire
press release

Ecojustice files injunction to halt Alberta’s unfair public inquiry until court makes ruling

CALGARY – Ecojustice is seeking an injunction to suspend the Kenney government’s public inquiry into “anti-Alberta” campaigns until the court makes a ruling in a lawsuit challenging the inquiry’s legality.
Mar 2020
Albertans deserve transparency on controversial public inquiry
press release

Albertans deserve transparency on controversial public inquiry: Ecojustice

CALGARY — Ecojustice is urging the province to end the secrecy around its “Public Inquiry into Anti-Albertan Energy Campaigns.
Nov 2019
Premier Kenney looks out of the window on a plane.
blog

The facts on Ecojustice funding

Since the early 1990s, Ecojustice has won dozens of precedent-setting legal victories and shaped the laws that are the cornerstone of initiatives to protect people, places, species, and the climate from coast to coast to coast.
Nov 2019
Premier Kenney looks out of the window on a plane.
press release

Ecojustice launches legal challenge against divisive Alberta public inquiry

CALGARY – Ecojustice is taking the Jason Kenney government to court over its controversial inquiry into environmental organizations and “anti-Albertan” activities.
Nov 2019
Jason Kenney and Doug Schweitzer speak at podiums
press release

UCP campaign donations raise questions of bias in Alberta public inquiry

CALGARY – Public political donation records raise serious questions about Steve Allan’s ability to impartially carry out his duties as commissioner of Alberta’s controversial public inquiry into environmental organizations, Ecojustice says.
Sep 2019
Jason Kenney speaks
blog

Standing up to Premier Kenney and defending free speech

Ecojustice is fighting back against Premier Jason Kenney’s targeted and politically-motivated attacks on people, environmental charities and Canadians concerned about the reality of climate change.
Sep 2019
press release

Kenney should expect legal action if commissioner fails to address flaws in ‘unlawful’ inquiry

CALGARY – Jason Kenney’s government could be at the receiving end of a court challenge if the commissioner in charge of a controversial public inquiry fails to address “fundamental issues of fairness,” Ecojustice has warned.