In 2019, the documentary Global Warning entered one of the most polarized debates in modern Canadian history. Some praised it, others dismissed it, and much of the media ignored it. Seven years later, many of the issues explored in the film—Canada's economic sovereignty, Indigenous partnerships, and energy development—have moved from the margins of public debate to the centre of Canadian politics.
Director Makes Film Free for All Canadians
Director and Muster Point Productions founder Mathew Embry is now releasing the original film free to every Canadian as a discussion point, a rallying cry, and a reminder that this country still has time to get it right. The film is available at globalwarning.ca and on YouTube.
A Film Ahead of Its Time
When Embry and the late Peter Beyak released Global Warning in 2019, local press dismissed it as a pro-oil film while much of the mainstream media gave it little attention. What many critics missed, or chose not to engage with, was that this was never a film about oil. It was a film about Canada: what we have, what we risk losing, and what we could become if we had the courage to have an honest conversation about our future.
Seven years later, the questions raised by the film feel more relevant than ever. Alberta is openly discussing separation. A new federal-Alberta memorandum of understanding signals a shift in how resource development is viewed. The economic consequences of limiting Canada's resource potential, explored throughout the film, continue to be debated from Fort McMurray to Bay Street. Meanwhile, a global energy conversation that once appeared settled has been reopened across governments, industries, and communities worldwide.
A Rallying Cry for Unity and Prosperity
Embry is re-releasing the film free of charge not to say, “I told you so,” but because he believes Canada remains at a crossroads and still has an opportunity to choose wisely.
“Energy should not divide Canadians. It is our inheritance, our opportunity, and the foundation of a stronger, more united country. Global Warning is a discussion point and a rallying cry for prosperity, unity, and hope. That's why we're making it available free to every Canadian. We can still get this right,” said Embry.
Unprecedented Access and Indigenous Voices
Global Warning was ahead of its time in ways that largely went unrecognized. The film featured Indigenous voices from across the spectrum of the energy debate, explored the growing tension between environmental policy and economic prosperity, and examined questions of national unity, energy security, and resource development that have since become central to Canadian public life.
Few documentaries have secured the level of access achieved by Global Warning. Filmed across Canada, Germany, and the United States, the production went behind the scenes at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, inside the United States Congress, deep into Alberta's oil sands operations, and into Indigenous communities directly affected by resource development.
