Elections Canada to Investigate Friends of Science

onFeb 17, 2008 @ 14:50 PST

DeSmogBlog Laid Complaint; CanWest sets out the Case

Responding to a complaint that DeSmogBlog manager Kevin Grandia submitted late last year, Elections Canada is reported to be on the trail of the energy industry front group Friends of Science (FOS).

The DeSmog complaint pointed to FOS‘s own materials in stating the case. It is the law in Canada that anyone who spends more than $500 on advocacy advertising during an election must register with elections Canada. FOS siphoned $200,000 through a University of Calgary trust fund (courtesy of Barry Cooper, inset), didn’t register, and boasted afterwards that they had helped swing key Ontario ridings to allow for the minority victory of Conservative party leader and current Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The first mainstream media coverage of this story appeared today in this very thorough Edmonton Journal story.

By Richard Littlemore

Analysis

uk/How Will Reform Rule Affect Local Climate Policy?

ByAdam Barnett

onMay 13, 2026 @ 08:23 PDT

Farage’s party has shown over the last year that it will attempt to block and reverse clean energy initiatives in its new councils.

Series: Defending Democracy from Dirty Money

Series: Defending-UK-Democracy

Event | Off the Record: How to Talk to Journalists, Lawyers, and Activist Organizations

ByDeSmog

onMay 13, 2026 @ 05:23 PDT

Join a May 19 discussion on how advertising and PR professionals can help journalists hold the industry to account, featuring DeSmog investigative reporters.

Oil Pipelines Align With Jesus, Danielle Smith Tells Christian Leaders

ByMary Stuart and Geoff Dembicki

onMay 13, 2026 @ 04:00 PDT

The Alberta premier gave a biblical justification for oil expansion at a Christian conference featuring Conservative MPs and provincial cabinet ministers.