Peace residents file complaint against David Suzuki Foundation over ‘misleading’ picture

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  Eight Peace region locals are filing a formal complaint over a photograph used by the David Suzuki Foundation to allegedly depict the Montney region. 

The eight residents submitted a complaint to the Competition Bureau Canada, an independent law enforcement agency which “protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses.” 

According to an application for inquiry document published by Deena Del Giusto, the group believes the foundation falsely represented the B.C. Montney region with a 20-year-old photograph of an oil field in Wyoming, U.S.A. 

The group alleges the foundation used the photograph in a misleading manner in order to receive donations.

“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,” the application read.

“The known misuse of the Wyoming image is all the more harmful because the David Suzuki Foundation is trusted as an [sic] internationally recognized, well resourced and ‘always grounded in sound evidence.’” 

The application claims the “misleading” picture has been used in website posts and Instagram and Facebook posts between July 2019 and October 2024. 

The group are requesting an investigation be conducted into the use of the picture, and any donations the foundation may have received through the image. 

Energeticcity.ca reached out to the David Suzuki Foundation, but did not receive a reply before publication. 

To read the full application for inquiry, read below.