UCP declares amendment in Bill C-59 to be a petro-company gag-order

Item 236(1) will require proof of any claimed environmental benefits

The entirety of the amendment in question currently reads:

236 (1) Subsection 74.‍01(1) of the Act is amended by striking out “or” at the end of paragraph (b) and by adding the following after that paragraph:

(b.‍1) makes a representation to the public in the form of a statement, warranty or guarantee of a product’s benefits for protecting or restoring the environment or mitigating the environmental, social and ecological causes or effects of climate change that is not based on an adequate and proper test, the proof of which lies on the person making the representation;

(b.‍2) makes a representation to the public with respect to the benefits of a business or business activity for protecting or restoring the environment or mitigating the environmental and ecological causes or effects of climate change that is not based on adequate and proper substantiation in accordance with internationally recognized methodology, the proof of which lies on the person making the representation; or

— Bill C-59, 236 (1): third reading

 

A straightforward reading of the text would tend to indicate that when passed, if you publicly claim your product is of benefit with respect to the environment, the onus is on you to prove the veracity of that statement.