W. Brett Wilson

Credentials

Wilson worked for Imperial Oil for three years after earning a civil engineering degree from the University of Saskatchewan. He continued his education at the University of Calgary, where he received an MBA in entrepreneurship in 1985.¹

Background

William (W.) Brett Wilson is an investment banker and was formerly listed as chairman of Canoe Financial² and Prairie Merchant Corporation. He co-founded FirstEnergy Capital Corp. in 1993. FirstEnergy Capital provides “investment-banking services to Canada’s oil and natural gas sector.”³ ⁴ Wilson is also known for his role as one of the “Dragons” on seasons 3 through 5 of the Canadian reality show Dragon’s Den, which aired on CBC. He left the series in 2011.⁵ He also hosted Slice/Global TV’s reality show Risky Business.⁶

Wilson founded his first investment banking advisory firm, Wilson Mackie & Co., in 1991. He launched FirstEnergy Capital in 1993, eventually retiring as chair of the firm in 2008. He then launched Prairie Merchant Corporation, “a private holding company that invests in energy, agriculture, real estate, sports, and entertainment industries,” and chaired Canoe Financial, “a privately owned investment management firm focused on Canadian resources.”⁷

Wilson was inducted into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame⁸ and received the Oil and Gas Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.⁹

On Twitter, now X, Wilson has described environmental activists as “Slimy bastards” and also suggested, “Hang them for treason.”¹⁰

Stance on Climate Change

February 12, 2024

Citing climate change science denier and blogger Tony Heller (AKA Steven Goddard) on X, Wilson asked if “#RadicalClimateAlarmists” were “wrong or stupid.” He reposted Heller’s graph claiming sea ice has increased over 18 years:¹¹

But the #RadicalClimateAlarmists said the life in both poles was melting and gone soon.

Are they wrong or stupid? https://t.co/TNQ9aFYHii
— * W. Brett Wilson * (@WBrettWilson) February 13, 2024

January 30, 2022

Wilson posted on X, with pictures of headlines from The Guardian, that “[c]limate change hysteria is fucking up our world,” describing it as “Stupid anti-real-science hypocrisy.”

Climate change hysteria is fucking up our world. Stupid anti-real-science hypocrisy pic.twitter.com/ORJa9NK3vx
— * W. Brett Wilson * (@WBrettWilson) January 30, 2022

Key Quotes

May 7, 2023

Wilson posted on X that Calgary’s Mayor “should apologize. And then resign” for declaring a Climate Emergency shortly after she was elected:¹²

Somehow the Radical Climate Alarmists found their way into the undies of @JyotiGondek the night she was elected. With @carterAB guidance she did something really stupid. Really really stupid.

She declared a #ClimateEmergency in a city that is a global center of excellence for…
— * W. Brett Wilson * (@WBrettWilson) May 8, 2023

February 2019

“I happen to believe that we’re being pushed out of Confederation,” Wilson said as part of an interview for Business in Calgary. “It’s not a bunch of people saying, ‘We need to leave’; it’s a bunch of people saying, ‘Why would we stay?’ We’re being pushed. And we’re tired of pushing back and saying, ‘No, no, we want to be here.’¹³Pages 50-51. ¹⁴

February 28, 2018

Wilson posted on X referencing environmental activists:¹⁵

Bastards. Slimy bastards. Hang them for treason…. https://t.co/s256dqrHh4
— * W. Brett Wilson * (@WBrettWilson) March 1, 2018

February 10, 2024

Wilson posted on X:¹⁶

If Trans can change gender can they change race?

Asking for a friend.
— * W. Brett Wilson * (@WBrettWilson) February 11, 2024

Key Actions

February 1, 2024

Brett Wilson claimed he was instrumental in bringing Tucker Carlson to Alberta.¹⁷

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith faced criticism for participating in Tucker Carlson’s event. Fox News fired Carlson in 2023 following false election claims, and “He’s been accused of spreading dangerous rhetoric and misinformation around politics, immigration and religion,” CTV News reported. ¹⁸

“Just the idea of having Tucker come to Canada had appeal. So I put it in front of his agent, and there was a bit of back and forth, and then I engaged Andy [McCreath] and Christian [Darbyshire],” Wilson said. “And Christian really ran the show. There’s no question about that. There’s no… As much as I might have stimulated the thought, Christian was amazing in terms of taking what was going to be 500 to 1000 people in Calgary, up to 4000 people.”¹⁹

He went on to discuss his involvement in the event:

“And I’ll tell you just to summarize, before you take on, the fact that Tucker was able to do a 20 minute job, the fact that I ended up on stage doing a bit of a quasi interview with Tucker and Jordan Peterson, who was the surprise element of the entire show, and then Danielle Smith was nothing short of extraordinary, in my opinion. And I’ll talk to it if you wish later. But she keeps elevating her game. She used to be an 8 or 9. She’s now an 11 or 12 in terms of our interaction and discussion, and, I couldn’t be prouder of my friendship and support for Danielle Smith.”²⁰

Wilson also discussed his relationship with Danielle Smith:²¹

“I’ve been on several of her radio shows. I’ve known her personally. She’s been to charity events that I’ve hosted, dozens of, charity events. So, again, a longstanding commitment or connection rather with with the premier.”²²

He added, “Her ability to take his narrative and turn it into something more relevant in terms of what’s going on in Alberta, was nothing short of extraordinary.”²³

January 2024

Tucker Carlson, later introduced in an interview as one of the organizers of the event, appeared online with Jordan Peterson and Tucker Carlson as part of Tucker Carlson’s events in Alberta. Carlson also spoke with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.²⁴ An excerpt was republished on the Tucker Carlson Network via YouTube.²⁵