Renewable Industries Canada
A Canadian nonprofit association advocating for renewable fuels and value-added products made from renewable resources.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Renewable Industries Canada, formerly known as the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, is a Canadian nonprofit industry association representing organizations involved in renewable fuels and related value-added products. Established in 1984, the organization was created to promote products made from renewable resources and to build public and government support for their wider use. Its stated approach combines consumer awareness with government liaison and policy advocacy. The association's work has focused particularly on biofuels used in transportation, including ethanol and biodiesel. It presents renewable fuels as tools for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, supporting domestic economic activity, and diversifying the country's energy mix. The organization has also argued that regulatory requirements for renewable fuel content are important for creating demand, encouraging investment, and expanding the market for Canadian producers. For much of its history, the association operated under the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association name. In 2016, after more than three decades of activity, it adopted the name Renewable Industries Canada. The rebranding broadened the description of its mission beyond fuels alone, emphasizing the use of value-added products made from renewable resources. The organization has described itself as representing more than 30 member companies and as a national voice for renewable fuels and related industries. RICanada operates primarily through advocacy, communications, public education, and engagement with government. Its policy activity has included support for stronger federal renewable-fuel mandates and public communication about the environmental and economic effects of ethanol and biodiesel. In 2017, it launched the Facts Don't Lie campaign, which presented claims about emissions reductions, employment, economic output, and the contribution of Canadian biofuels mandates to national climate objectives. The association has also participated in explicitly political and public-policy communications. In 2007, while still operating as the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, it ran television advertisements highlighting a Conservative Party commitment to renewable fuels and a proposed five-percent renewable-fuel standard for Canadian transportation fuels. The broader policy objective received support across party lines, although the association's advocacy has sometimes been closely associated with federal political debate over fuel standards and climate policy. RICanada is governed through a board of directors and has historically been led by presidents and an executive director. Publicly identified former presidents include Gordon Quaiattini, W. Scott Thurlow, and Andrea Kent. Earlier leadership included Kory Teneycke. The association has also employed registered lobbyists, including Ken Boessenkool during the period described in public reference material. The current name and organizational status reflect an ongoing advocacy role rather than a commercial producer or fuel retailer.
History
Renewable Industries Canada was established in 1984 as the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, a nonprofit organization intended to represent and promote Canada's renewable-fuels sector. Its original mission centered on encouraging the use of renewable fuels and other products derived from renewable resources. The association pursued this mission through industry representation, consumer communication, and liaison with governments. Its principal policy area has been the use of biofuels in transportation. Ethanol and biodiesel have been central to its public arguments because they can be blended into conventional fuels and because the association presents them as capable of lowering lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions relative to petroleum alternatives. RICanada has also connected renewable-fuel policy with domestic investment, employment, agricultural markets, and the development of value-added industries. The association's public-policy activity has included support for renewable-fuel mandates. In 2007, the then-CRFA promoted a Conservative Party pledge associated with a five-percent renewable-fuel standard for transportation fuels. Its advertising featured Stephen Harper and Peter Kent. The subject had wider political support: Liberal representatives also supported a five-percent standard, while former Saskatchewan NDP premier Lorne Calvert advocated a ten-percent biofuels mandate. This period established the association as an active participant in national debate over energy, agriculture, transportation, and climate policy. Leadership before and after this period included a succession of presidents. Kory Teneycke led the organization before 2007, followed by Gordon Quaiattini from 2007 to 2014, W. Scott Thurlow from 2012 to 2014, and Andrea Kent from 2014 to 2017. The overlapping dates reflect the public leadership information available in reference material and may represent changes in office or reporting conventions. The organization has also been described as being led by an executive director and accountable to a board of directors. Ken Boessenkool was identified as one of its registered lobbyists during an earlier period. In 2016, the association changed its name to Renewable Industries Canada. The rebrand followed 32 years under the CRFA identity and was intended to signal a broader mission. Rather than focusing only on fuels, the new name highlighted value-added products made from renewable resources. The association continued to describe itself as representing more than 30 member companies and as a leading Canadian voice on the role of renewable fuels in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. In 2017, RICanada launched Facts Don't Lie, a public-awareness campaign focused on the environmental and economic case for biofuels mandates. The campaign cited claimed emissions reductions for ethanol and biodiesel, the aggregate effect of Canadian mandates on annual emissions, potential employment and economic gains from stronger mandates, and Canada's position relative to countries with higher renewable-fuel requirements. Its central policy message was that the federal government should increase renewable content mandates. RICanada's history therefore combines trade-association representation with policy campaigning. It is not described as a fuel manufacturer, retailer, or publicly traded company. Its role is to organize industry interests, communicate the benefits it associates with renewable fuels, and advocate for regulatory frameworks that expand the use of renewable-resource-based products in Canada.
- 2017
Facts Don't Lie campaign launched
[1]RICanada began a public campaign explaining the environmental and economic benefits it associated with biofuels mandates and calling for stronger federal requirements.
- 2016
Name changed to Renewable Industries Canada
[1]The association adopted a broader name intended to reflect its interest in value-added products made from renewable resources as well as renewable fuels.
- 2007
Renewable-fuel mandate advertising campaign
[1]The CRFA ran television advertisements supporting a Conservative Party pledge connected with a five-percent renewable-fuel standard for Canadian transportation fuels.
- 1984
Association founded as the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association
[1]A Canadian nonprofit association was established to promote renewable fuels and products made from renewable resources.
Products and positioning
A national nonprofit industry voice for renewable fuels and renewable-resource-based products, positioning biofuels as both emissions-reduction tools and contributors to Canadian economic development.
Product categories. Policy advocacy · Government liaison · Consumer education · Industry representation · Public campaigns concerning renewable fuels and biofuels
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Facts Don't Lie
Canada
RICanada's public-awareness campaign presented figures and arguments about biofuel emissions reductions, the effects of Canadian mandates, employment, economic output, and international renewable-fuel requirements. It called on the federal government to increase renewable content mandates.
- 2007Renewable-fuel mandate television advertisements
Canada
The CRFA used television advertising to promote a Conservative Party commitment to renewable fuels and a five-percent renewable-fuel standard for transportation fuels. The advertisements included images of Stephen Harper and an interview with Conservative candidate Peter Kent.
Brand decisions
2017
Public campaign supporting stronger biofuels mandatesStrategyBackground
RICanada argued that renewable fuels could reduce transportation emissions and generate economic benefits, while Canada had lower renewable-fuel requirements than many other countries.
Action taken
The association launched Facts Don't Lie to communicate its claims and advocate increased federal renewable content mandates.
2016
Broadened organizational identity through rebrandingStrategyBackground
After operating for 32 years as the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, the organization sought an identity that reflected interests beyond fuels alone.
Action taken
It changed its name to Renewable Industries Canada and emphasized value-added products made from renewable resources.
Aftermath
The organization continued its advocacy and representation role under the RICanada name.
Recent events
- 2017
Renewable Industries Canada launches Facts Don't Lie campaign[1]
Campaign · Regulation
The public-awareness campaign promoted the environmental and economic benefits that the association attributed to Canadian biofuels mandates and called for increased renewable content requirements in transportation fuels.
- 2016
Canadian Renewable Fuels Association adopts Renewable Industries Canada name[1]
Other
The association changed its name after 32 years, presenting the new identity as a broader expression of its mission to promote value-added products made from renewable resources.
- 2007
Canadian Renewable Fuels Association advertises renewable-fuel policy pledge[1]
Campaign · Regulation
The association ran television advertisements featuring Stephen Harper and Conservative candidate Peter Kent while promoting a proposed five-percent renewable-fuel standard for Canadian transportation fuels.
Sources2 sources
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