Fossil Fools Day

Molly Forsythe | Mar 29, 2023

Local community members are joining together in front of RBC branches across Canada to support climate action and indigenous rights on April 1st, to emphasise the importance of this issue before RBC’s Annual General Meeting which will be held on April 5th. 

RBC is the biggest funder of fossil fuels in Canada (5th largest in the world). It has poured over $200 Billion into fossil fuels since the Paris Climate Agreement, a legally binding international agreement, went into effect in 2016. RBC is financing the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline on Wet'suwet'en territory. RBC CEO cancelled  a planned meeting with the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs in January, while continuing to finance the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline currently being built under the Wedzin Kwah headwaters, destroying pristine waterways, where the Wet’suwet’en have been drinking from the  clean waters for time beyond counting.

As concerned citizens we want customers, investors and the public to know that while RBC offers “fossil free investment options”, they are still putting more money into fossil fuels. We need to ask much more of our financial institutions: to fund infrastructure that will lead to a healthy future for our grandchildren. As investors and customers, it is our money. Major banks have the money we need to build the infrastructure for our future.  They need to be held to account. The pursuit of short term gain from fossil fuel exploitation is foolish. 

Fossil Fools Day organisers Linda Kulkarni and Anita Payne, from Perth, extend this invitation to all Lanark County residents and interested persons:  

“Come join us Saturday April 1, 11-12 a.m. at 44 Gore St. E, Perth ON, in front of RBC Perth branch to inform RBC customers and the public on this issue. Please bring signs and posters related to the climate crisis and fossil fuels.  We will bring leaflets and cards to hand out to the public, a banner and a few extra signs.”

You can also support the Wet’suwet’en anywhere in Canada by becoming informed and meeting with others in front of your local RBC on Saturday April 1st.

Please register if creating your own event or joining the Perth gathering at https://act.leadnow.ca/FossilFoolsDay/

Molly Forsythe