A complaint has been filed with Canada’s Competition Bureau, alleging that the David Suzuki Foundation used a misleading image to discredit natural gas development in British Columbia’s Montney Formation.
The complaint, submitted by eight residents of British Columbia, alleges that The David Suzuki Foundation repeatedly used a “materially false and misleading representation” of the Montney Formation by using a 20-year-old picture depicting a fracking project in Wyoming.
The David Suzuki Foundation, a Canadian environmental activist organization known for its aggressive opposition to conventional energy development, is having its reputation as a credible and reliable source challenged.
The complaint alleges that the David Suzuki Foundation repeatedly used this photograph to attack B.C.’s natural gas development and attract donations to their organization, knowing that the image depicted a Wyoming development and not a Canadian project—a misrepresentation the complainants say violates the Competition Act.
“We are business owners, residents, and concerned citizens standing up for the communities of Northeast B.C. against unfair attacks on our region’s natural gas industry,” reads the complaint.
“This industry is not just an economic driver—it provides jobs, fuels local businesses, and generates prosperity that benefits all British Columbians.”
The complaint draws attention to the David Suzuki Foundation’s website, where a prompt to donate is found on nearly every webpage, including the webpages that falsely portray the Wyoming fracking development as representative of natural gas development at Montney.
“The David Suzuki Foundation’s misuse of the Wyoming image seeks to unfairly advance its business interests by misleading the Canadian public about today’s natural gas extraction in Northeast B.C. This is needed to continue to attract significant donations from the public,” reads the complaint.
“The David Suzuki Foundation has used the Wyoming image across social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram) and its website to represent natural gas development in the Montney.”
Stewart Muir, one of the complainants, emailed the David Suzuki Foundation’s Chair Margot Young on July 4, 2024, alerting her of the organization’s repeated misuse of the Wyoming photograph, to which she replied acknowledging the issue and that it has been raised with the executive director.
However, just months after Muir’s complaint, the foundation used the Wyoming image in a series of new social media posts in October 2024 and remained on their website well into 2025.
The complaint notes that natural gas development at the Montney Formation is done using a different drilling method that respects the surrounding environment and the area’s greenery.
“The Wyoming image paints a picture of the Montney BC region as one that is dirty, desolate and packed with natural gas well pads, as opposed to the reality of a green area where natural gas development takes place around farms and public infrastructure,” reads the complaint.
“This leads to a conclusion of irresponsible drilling, with no regard to any environmental or other considerations, likely without any regulation. This is materially false, and inconsistent with reality, and moreover, is incredibly damaging.”
The complainants are asking the Competition Bureau to issue a monetary penalty up to $15,000,000 and to issue a public notice informing Canadians of their deceptive practices.
True North reached out to the David Suzuki Foundation for comment, though no response was given.
The David Suzuki Foundation has taken several grants from the federal government over the years, totalling $506,596.
In 2023, the David Suzuki Foundation took in $12,322,617 in contributions and held $2,810,587 in cash. They also held nearly $20 million in investments.