British Columbia investigates claims that energy company ‘dramatically’ influenced climate policy

Inquiry into possible violations of provincial law after TC Energy executive claims company influenced government

British Columbia's attorney general has called for an investigation into possible violations of provincial law after a Canadian oil and gas executive claimed the company improperly used political connections to dramatically'' weaken the province's environmental policies.

In leaked audio recordings first published by the Narwhal and heard by the Guardian, the executive, Liam Iliffe, claimed that TC Energy, a Calgary-based pipeline company with operations spanning the continent, had ghostwritten ministerial briefing notes and planted employees next to the strawberries or the romaine lettuce" at a Costco supermarket to choreograph seemingly impromptu meetings with senior bureaucrats in order to push the company's agenda.