An
#elxn43
story worth following beyond the headline: It’s not just that the company co-founded by Scheer’s campaign manager (Hamish Marshall) has contracts with both CPC and CAPP for election advertising
#cdnpoli
2. This development has to be seen in light of the Globe scoop back in April on a secret meeting between oil-industry executives & Conservative politicians to map out a strategy for defeating the Trudeau government
3. At that meeting (attended by Andrew Scheer & CAPP’s Tim McMillan), Marshall (who apparently only took leave from his firm in June) spoke on a panel about “rallying the base” by using friendly interest groups that operate independently of the party
4. Marshall is something of digital strategy wunderkind for the right, having worked for Conservative politicians as well as helping Ezra Levant set up first Ethical Oil & then The Rebel, which are key proponents of a vigorously anti-environmental form of petro-nationalism
5. At this point, it’s worth noting that CAPP’s advertising is appearing under the name of its front group “Energy Citizens” and has become much more aggressive in demonizing environmentalists and climate action
This election ad pushing petro-nationalism to oppose action on climate change and demonize environmentalists, is from
@OilGasCanada
- the main oil lobby group that advocates for Exxon, Shell, BP, PetroChina et al
#elxn43
6. So I was intrigued to see that his PR company - that claims it “creates social movements, mobilizes people, and inspire actions both on and offline” – was listed on CAPP’s interim report on election ad expenses
7. The Globe discovered his firm was also working for the CPC, which in combo w/ that history of pre-election discussions & similarity btwn CAPP’s election wish list + Conservative platform raises questions re whether this crosses the line prohibiting collusion in Elections Act
8. As article notes, it’s not clear if this breaks the rules (which are new). It does highlight the increasingly blurred lines between the oil lobby & the Conservative party, which is feeding the Jason Kenney-style attacks on climate policy & advocates (War Room, Inquiry...)