Environment

Environment minister says Canada a climate leader despite oil and gas moves

Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin says Canada is being hailed as a climate leader at the COP31 summit in Turkey.

By Bianca Ferraro, Environment Reporter
November 14, 2026

ANTALYA · Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin says Canada is being hailed as a leader in the fight against climate change at the COP31 conference in Turkey. Dabrusin said Canada is receiving a warm reception despite recent government investments and policies supporting the oil and gas industry. She pointed to Canada's recommitment to international climate finance and its strengthened methane regulations as evidence of leadership. The minister spoke in an interview from Antalya on Friday.

"Canada is getting a really warm reception here," Dabrusin said. "We're a leader in the fight against climate change, and very much in every room that I've been in, I have seen that support and warmth." She noted Canada is one of only two developed countries to have recommitted to international climate finance. Dabrusin also highlighted updated regulations aimed at reducing methane emissions from oil and gas by 72 per cent by 2030. The minister's comments come as United Nations Secretary General António Guterres used his COP31 address to call for an "accelerated transition away from fossil fuels." The Liberal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney has recently tabled legislation to bypass environmental safeguards for major projects, sought investment for a West Coast oil pipeline, created a tax benefit for oil extraction, and opened the door to potential future Arctic oil drilling.

When asked if anyone at the conference had expressed concern about Canada's recent support for fossil fuels, Dabrusin pointed to other recent decisions. "We're talking about recent decisions," she said. "Like the international climate finance being recommitted is a recent decision from just earlier this year. The decision to strengthen our methane regulations was just at the end of last year." She also cited work on oceans protection and clean electricity.

Domestically, the government faced questions this week about an $11 million budget line to support oversight of offshore oil and gas activities in the Arctic Ocean. Carney told reporters the funding was for "respectful engagement" with Indigenous leadership and not a decision to lift the moratorium on Arctic drilling. Asked if that engagement could ultimately lead to drilling, Dabrusin said, "There is no decision in this budget to lift the moratorium on oil and gas. He was clear about that, and I will be clear about it as well. That's not what this funding is about."

Former Liberal environment minister Catherine McKenna, who is also at the summit, posted this week that analysis by Climate Action Tracker shows Canada's policies are "critically insufficient" and aligned with a world more than four degrees warmer. Dabrusin was asked what she would say to young Canadians who feel the government is failing them. "I think this is actually very important for young Canadians," Dabrusin said. "It's important for all Canadians that we continue to fight against climate change. We're actually very much committed to doing that."

She pointed to measures in Budget 2026, including doubling the electricity grid, expanding the EV charging network, and helping one million homes switch to heat pumps. "The proof is in where we put the money in this budget, which is towards electrification, which is exactly what we need to do as a country if we want to move to electrification," Dabrusin said. She added the government is committed to reducing domestic emissions and helping other countries through international finance. Your Space Hamilton reported in November that Dabrusin was pointing to methane reduction and electrification to defend Canada's climate credentials.

With files from CBC News