Report: Big Oil Held 1,318 Lobbying Meetings With Mark Carney's Government in First Year

A new report is raising fresh questions about how frequently fossil fuel companies met with Canada's top federal officials during Prime Minister Mark Carney's first year in office.

Key Findings

Between May 2025 and April 2026, the oil and gas sector logged 1,318 lobbying meetings with the federal government — roughly five meetings for every working day in that period. Environmental Defence, a Canadian environmental advocacy group, compiled the figures using the federal Lobbying Registry.

The group reports that Prime Minister Mark Carney met with fossil-fuel lobbyists at least 14 times during his first year as prime minister, and more than 20 times since he became leader of the Liberal Party. Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson held no fewer than 83 meetings with fossil fuel representatives — a dramatic increase compared with the next-most-lobbied minister in 2024, who recorded just 19 such meetings.

Environmental Defence also counted 305 meetings involving companies in the Oil Sands Alliance.

Voices From the Report

Julia Levin, Associate Director of National Climate at Environmental Defence, wrote: "Since becoming Prime Minister, Mark Carney has taken a wrecking ball to the country's climate progress. And it's no wonder, given that fossil fuel lobbyists have been given unprecedented access to his government."

Levin added: "Minister Hodgson has been cheerleading for fossil fuel corporations, even greenwashing the industry's climate and environmental impact. As a reminder, the oil and gas industry is Canada's largest source of the climate pollution that's driving disasters like wildfires, heat waves, and floods."

Why It Matters

Lobbying can shape which energy projects receive political support, public funding and regulatory approval. Environmental Defence argues that the industry's level of access helps explain the federal government's ongoing support for liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, pipelines and carbon capture proposals despite growing climate risks.

The report warns the consequences extend beyond greenhouse-gas emissions. Fossil fuels contribute to local air and water pollution from coal- and natural-gas-fired power plants, which have been linked to higher rates of asthma, heart disease, cancer and premature death. Continued reliance on fossil fuels can also keep household energy costs volatile by tying consumers to fuel markets instead of accelerating cleaner, more stable alternatives like solar and wind.

Transparency and Trust

Environmental Defence says the frequency of meetings has eroded public trust in whether officials act in the public interest. The report highlights potential conflicts of interest, noting that Minister Hodgson previously served on the board of an oil company, raising concerns about his ability to regulate the industry impartially.

What advocates are calling for: stronger transparency measures, fuller public disclosure of meetings and minutes, and clearer conflict-of-interest safeguards for ministers and senior officials.

Source: Environmental Defence analysis of federal Lobbying Registry records (May 2025–April 2026).