Canada’s anti-greenwashing rules are good business. Critics exaggerate the dangers

Greenwash Action Lab has been committed to putting pressure on the Canadian government to increase sustainability regulation. On Thursday, June 20, something was finally done to strengthen it - Bill C-59 was enacted. Alongside praise from environmentally conscious consumers and organizations came loads of backlash from other parties.

The Bill no longer allows unsubstantiated environmental claims that do not have “adequate and proper” evidence and imposes severe penalties. It also makes it simpler for non-governmental organizations to bring those who are greenwashing to court.

Webpages and social media feeds across the country were taken down after the announcement of the Bill, largely by fossil fuel companies. Politicians even referred to the decision as an “undemocratic gag order.”

Wren Montgomery and Julien Beaulieu think otherwise and have written an Op-Ed for The Globe and Mail. “Whether you care about climate change or you are a staunch follower of free-market economist Milton Friedman, who called for “open and free competition without deception and fraud,” the amendments should be considered a win for the Canadian economy.”

Read more on the controversy at hand and the areas where Wren and Julien think legislation should offer even more guidance for consumers.