As the world transitions from oil to other renewable energy resources, making decisions based on common sense instead of emotion is essential. This is a common theme among the Grits and most environmental groups.
The discovery of oil off Newfoundland’s shores in the late 1970s was a blessing, particularly given the decline of the Newfoundland cod fishery. Even if the fishery rebounds, it will never reach its former prominence. Having learned from our past mistakes of allowing Ottawa’s bureaucrats to mismanage our resources, why should we again listen to them and, this time, environmental groups that threaten Newfoundland’s oil industry?
Small Change Fund, an environmental group, aims to influence public opinion by spreading negative propaganda about the oil industry. It is gearing up to make its stand in the new year.
I came across Small Change Fund’s plans in Newfoundland during a phone interview for a job. I applied for a communications position. I have a communications diploma, a Journalism Degree from the University of Regina, and over 20 years of experience in the newspaper industry. In the end, I didn't get the job I applied for, which, oddly, I felt relieved. I did get offered a position in oil and gas transition, for which I didn't respond by email.
I first learned a breakdown of their plan in a conversation with Small Change Funds CEO Buckard Mausberg, a Torontoian with German heritage. In journalism and public relations, it's hard to support issues you don't support.
I never could, and I can't now. Maybe I should have looked at the job description more closely. At that time, I didn't know what their plan was for Newfoundland. During my email communication with Buckhard, he sent me a document with their Newfoundland project outlining their step-by-step plans for the province.
Positive Impact
The oil industry has significantly and positively impacted Newfoundland and Labrador's economy, job creation, and other sectors. The offshore oil industry has generated billions in tax and royalty revenue, contributing around 23% of the province's GDP. Thousands of jobs have been created directly in the oil sector and indirectly in supporting industries. The industry has also boosted skill development and training programs. The broader economic benefits of high-paying jobs in the oil industry include increased consumer spending, benefiting local businesses, and significant domestic and international investment.
Environmental Monitoring
It has been well publicized that offshore oil production has environmental risks, such as destroying marine life and ecosystems. It has led to stricter regulations and oil companies have responded. Countless efforts have been made to ensure safe operation and minimize environmental risks.
All oil companies operating in Hibernia or White Rose have environmental monitoring programs that track and ensure compliance with environmental standards. Incident response plans address oil spills and other incidents. Research and surveys regularly monitor marine life around offshore platforms.
Newfoundland's carbon footprint is also much lower than other parts of Canada. Hibernia and White Rose Oil Fields emit lower greenhouse emissions per barrel than the Alberta oil sands. When burned, crude from the Hibernia project emits 436 kilograms of carbon per barrel, while diluted bitumen from Alberta’s oil sands emits about 466 kilograms per barrel.
Mandate
Small Change Fund is a Canadian organization that empowers individuals and grassroots organizations to improve the environment. It focuses on supporting projects that conserve natural areas and promote sustainable practices. The fund accomplishes this through its crowdfunding platform, which supports campaign planning, government relations, fundraising, and communications to help organizations succeed. The fund also develops projects such as Hot Globe, a comedy series about climate change, and Get On The Bus, a national movement to inspire a youth transit revolution.
Shaping Public Opinion
Environmental groups like the Small Change Fund value shaping public opinions and manipulating the media. They will highlight negative information that will shape public opinion through frivolous campaigns, protests, and social media, mobilizing public support and encouraging people to take action, such as signing petitions or attending rallies.
Their potential impact on future projects includes delays or cancellations of exploration and production plans, which could affect the industry's long-term sustainability.
Similar to what is happening to the Bay du Nord Project, groups like the Small Change Fund can cause regulatory bodies to reevaluate project approvals, leading to potential delays and increased scrutiny. This can slow down the permitting and construction phases.
Sustained public opposition and lobbying can lead to project cancellations if the environmental impact is too high or the political and social climate becomes unfavourable. Negative publicity and potential regulatory changes can deter investors, impacting the financial viability of projects.
By shelving projects like the Bay du Nord project, which was paused due to market conditions, rising costs, and environmental concerns, the Small Change Fund can exacerbate these challenges, leading to extended delays or further review, which it plans to do in the new year.
Communications Strategy
A synopsis of Small Change Fund’s communications plan involves developing a transition policy agenda by engaging a transition campaigner based in the Newfoundland and Labrador’s Federation of Labour to lead the work (the advertised Communications position). The first item on the list by Newfoundland and Labrador ENGOs suggests pursuing a moratorium on all new oil and gas development.
Their environmental collective will work with a consultant between mid-October and mid-December to help develop the campaign strategy and identify potential allies. The next opportunity to submit a funding application to an ETF, also called Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), is in January. ESG refers to funding or investment funds focusing on companies with substantial environmental, social, and governance practices. It aims to allow investors to invest in companies committed to ethical practices. Small Change Fund plans to submit an application to this fund in January.
This goal is to help the group develop a theory of how to get there. Small Change Fund will also start reaching out to groups or individuals with whom it may need to collaborate in 2025 and beyond.
One of the comms strategy and implementation leaders will be Memorial University’s Prof. Angela Carter’s research on transition policy. Carter is described in the project as an expert in building an equitable transition collaboration to answer critical questions with data-driven analysis, including creating transition pathways and mobilizing the implementation of equitable transition policies.
The goal of the content for their transition agenda is to combat government and industry public relations that promote ramping up the oil and gas industry as the best option for the province. To do so, Small Change will engage a well-known Newfoundlander to be the reasonable voice for the transition and raise public awareness and support for it. Some early candidates include Alan Doyle, Michael Crummey and Linden Macintyre.
Sierra Club is also preparing an application to the ESG/ETF early next year for a Bay du Nord campaigner and support costs.
Deep Canvassing
Other partnerships supporting Small Change Fund include The Echo Foundation, a private charitable foundation incorporated in 1983 with its headquarters in Montreal. After each organization submitted individual funding applications a few months apart, the Echo Foundation invited a joint proposal from Neighbours United and Small Change Fund.
The foundation supports environmental initiatives in Eastern Canada, focusing on protecting ecologically critical natural areas and funding various projects promoting sustainable practices. Neighbours United is a community-focused organization that brings people together to solve local issues and support policies that benefit both people and nature. Its deep engagement canvassing initiative has helped over 100,000 people in 14 countries transition to 100 percent renewable energy.
Small Change’s transition budget includes an originally requested $200,000 from the Echo Foundation over two years; they have instead committed to $150,000 over two years. Neighbours United will receive $41,250 annually for two years for deep canvassing work. The remainder of the Echo grant will be distributed in a revised budget, including research support ($20,000/yr), meetings (up to $30,000/yr), and comms (up to $150,000/yr).
Neighbours United’s engagement method aims to allow meaningful conversations with people on a personal level. A strategy they refer to as “moving the dial” on polarizing and partisan issues. They aim to target three suburban provincial swing ridings around St. John's and run a volunteer deep canvassing program to persuade conflicted residents to support legislation to end oil and gas exploration.
They will also test escalating new and existing supporters to show the building power to MHAs during key moments over 2024-2025. This work will also be separately funded by the McCall MacBain Foundation and Energy Transition Fund, and an additional $200,000 of funding is sought to complete the budget needs for it.
Riding-specific communications efforts will support the deep canvassing work. While the approach and tactics have yet to be developed, the idea is to amplify positive, future-friendly messaging about the transition from oil and gas in those ridings. It could be a combination of messages heard at the door – direct video/quotes from those being canvassed – or radio ads, billboards or social. It could also be a communicator on the ground that works with grassroots messaging. The exact communication vehicles and messaging will be developed once critical people and processes are in place.
Workshops
Small Change will hold coalition meetings, which will involve critical stakeholders made up of ENGOs, labour, economists, academics, health experts, and others to develop relationships and hear about successful transitions, where knowledge gleaned from local canvassing efforts, key transition policies will identify opportunities to advance their agenda in the next provincial election, expected towards the end of 2025.
The meetings will convene every two years, with most participants from the province and a few from the mainland. Small Change Fund will use the province's Climate Change Mitigation Plan to support the transition to a low-carbon economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. Angela Giles from the Council of Canadians will help, to a limited extent, with the international work on Bay du Nord. CanRAC will also participate.
As you can see, 2025 looks promising for an environmental war on Newfoundland’s Oil Industry.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundlands strongly supports explorative drilling for offshore oil. They believe that the oil and gas industry is crucial for the province's economy, creating jobs and generating local benefits. The party criticizes the Liberal government's approach, arguing that it creates unnecessary delays and barriers for energy projects.
And that is precisely what Small Change Fund wants to happen: barriers, delays, and overall stoppages.
Hopefully, our Liberal government will be strong enough to fight these Green Warriors to save jobs and a resource we cannot afford to throw away.
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