Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: The Canadian Chamber of Commerce (“the Chamber”) exhibits strategic policy engagement that is broadly misaligned with policy pathways for limiting global warming in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The organization undertakes obstructive advocacy on emissions regulations in Canada and promotes expansion of oil and gas production.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: The Chamber demonstrates a mix of positive and negative top-line messaging on climate policy. In May 2024 comments to a parliamentary committee, a Chamber representative recognized the importance of achieving Canada’s net-zero objectives. However, this support for an IPCC-aligned response to climate change appears to have weakened in 2025, with a June 2025 Chamber report emphasizing that Canada’s emissions reduction targets must not come “at the expense of the country’s economic growth, energy security or the livelihoods of Canadians.” The Chamber does not fully support the need for climate change regulation, often supporting government investment and incentives while raising economic concerns about other forms of environmental regulation, demonstrated by a May 2025 letter and blog post.
Engagement with Climate-Related Policies: The Chamber exhibits broadly negative engagement with climate-related policies, particularly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions regulations. The organization consistently opposes regulations targeting GHG emissions reductions in Canada’s oil and gas sector, most notably the Oil and Gas Emissions Cap as well as the amended methane regulations, which target a 75 percent reduction in oil and gas sector methane emissions by 2030, relative to 2012 levels. For example, the Chamber advocated for the removal of both policies in May 2025 letters to Julie Dabrusin and Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources respectively. The organization also opposed Canada’s Clean Electricity Regulations in a May 2025 blog post, arguing that the regulation will create an “expensive and unreliable” electricity system.
The Chamber opposed an ambitious UN Plastics Treaty in a June 2025 joint letter to US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, advocating against measures targeting production of plastics and promoting the adoption of national flexibility in the treaty.
The Chamber’s engagement on carbon pricing policies is more positive. For example, a Chamber representative expressed support for Canada’s industrial carbon pricing regime, the Output-Based Pricing System, in April 2024 comments to a parliamentary committee.
Positioning on Energy Transition: The Chamber’s positioning on energy transition is broadly negative, driven by advocacy for policy interventions promoting the long-term role of fossil fuels in the energy mix. For example, in a June 2025 report, the organization advocated for the expedited approval of energy projects including new pipelines, liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals and oil sands developments, highlighting the “big role” conventional energy will play in the energy mix “for decades to come.” Similarly, the Chamber advocated for changes to Canada's Impact Assessment Act to accelerate approvals of oil and fossil gas projects in a submission to pre-budget consultations in August 2024, and directly engaged Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources in July 2025 to promote policies strengthening Canada's oil and gas sector. In the transport sector, the Chamber opposed Canada’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, in a May 2025 blog post.
The Chamber has consistently demonstrated positive positions on government investments and incentives for decarbonization. For example, the organization supported the implementation and expansion of Canada’s Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits (ITCs), including the Clean Technology Manufacturing ITC, to facilitate critical minerals mining projects in a September 2024 submission to the Department of Finance and May 2024 comments to a parliamentary committee.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information, see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the association’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q3 2025.