Application for Inquiry into the Canadian Gas Association´s false and misleading representations about natural gas

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and other applicants argue that the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) has engaged in greenwashing by marketing natural gas as a clean and affordable energy source. The document asserts that natural gas has a lifecycle climate impact comparable to coal, causes significant indoor and outdoor pollution, and is less affordable than heat pumps, especially as carbon pricing increases. The applicants request a Competition Bureau inquiry, a public retraction of the claims, and a $10 million fine.

• The applicants argue that the CGA's claim that natural gas is "clean" is false because its lifecycle climate impact is comparable to coal when measured over a 20-year period.
• Natural gas production is identified as a source of significant environmental pollution, including the release of hazardous air pollutants and the contamination of water sources through fracking.
• The use of natural gas in home cooking appliances is linked to indoor air pollution, specifically nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which increases the risk of asthma in children.
• The document asserts that natural gas is not the most affordable energy option, stating that heat pumps are cheaper to operate in most Canadian regions.
• Natural gas prices are described as highly volatile and subject to global market forces, making long-term affordability claims misleading for systems with 10-25 year lifespans.
• Future costs of natural gas are expected to rise due to increasing carbon pricing and the higher cost of integrating renewable natural gas (RNG).
• The applicants claim that as consumers switch to low-carbon energy, the fixed costs of the gas distribution system will be shared by fewer users, further increasing prices.
• The CGA's "Fuelling Canada" campaign is characterized as a tool to lock consumers into natural gas infrastructure to protect the business interests of its member companies.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (n.d.). Application for Inquiry into the Canadian Gas Association´s false and misleading representations about natural gas. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-09-23-Final-CGA-complaint-to-Competition-Bureau.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Application for Inquiry into the Canadian Gas Association´s false and misleading representations about natural gas. n.d. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-09-23-Final-CGA-complaint-to-Competition-Bureau.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Application for Inquiry into the Canadian Gas Association´s false and misleading representations about natural gas |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-09-23-Final-CGA-complaint-to-Competition-Bureau.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironmentndapplication, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Application for Inquiry into the Canadian Gas Association´s false and misleading representations about natural gas}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-09-23-Final-CGA-complaint-to-Competition-Bureau.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }