Oil Lobby Group Recruited Canadian Minister for Secret Strategy Meeting

"An oil industry lobby group successfully recruited a Canadian cabinet minister to deliver a pep talk and dispense strategic planning advice at a closed door meeting in a luxury Rocky Mountains resort, the Guardian has learned.

In the 21 October 2014 session, Greg Rickford, the natural resources minister, urged the 40 to 50 assembled executives to work harder to spread the oil industry’s message.

“You are fighting an uphill battle for public confidence,” he said. “Our messages are not resonating.”

The 2,900-word prepared speech makes no mention of climate change or the conclusions of studies that say most of the tar sands will have to stay in the ground to avoid catastrophic global warming."

Suzanne Goldenberg reports for the Guardian May 28, 2015.