The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) paid Mansbridge to speak at its Investment Symposium in December 2012 and a photo of him giving the address on how "energy has moved to the forefront of news: economic, environment, safety" was posted to the group's Facebook page.

CBC anchor Peter Mansbridge was paid by a top oil and gas industry group to give a speech on energy, raising new questions about the broadcaster's conflict of interest policies in the wake of revelations about contributor Rex Murphy's ties to the energy sector .



CAPP spokesperson Geraldine Anderson told Canadaland's Jesse Brown that the lobbying organization procured Mansbridge's services through the Lavin Agency but that the terms of the speaking agreement prohibit releasing the fee paid. Mansbridge received $28,000 for one recent speaking engagement, according to the Toronto Sun.

The CAPP is one of Canada's most influential lobby groups and its member companies "produce more than 90 per cent of Canada’s natural gas and crude oil," according to its website.

Environmental blogger Sierra Rayne first drew attention to Mansbridge's speaking appearance for CAPP on Saturday. Rayne also highlighted several other Mansbridge speaking engagements, including one sponsored by energy giant Cenovus during a conference conducted by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen in 2011. On Wednesday, Rayne also highlighted that CBC anchor Ian Hanomansing spoke at a Oilweek Rising Stars event in 2013.

CBC spokesperson Chuck Thompson confirmed to HuffPost Canada that Mansbridge received permission from the public broadcaster to speak at the CAPP event and clears all his speaking engagements with the senior news team.

"Peter is encouraged by management to speak on a regular basis, it's part of an outreach initiative in place for many of our hosts that ensures CBC News and in this case our Chief Correspondent is talking to Canadians in communities across the country," Thompson said in an email.

"The content of those speeches is always about putting CBC News coverage into context and explaining what we do and how we do it but Peter never offers up his opinion or takes a position on anything that's in the news."

The text of Mansbridge's speech is not available online.

Thompson also highlighted that Mansbridge "speaks to a variety of groups and has given more than 200 speeches in the last ten years; some of those groups include associations or organizations looking out for the environment."

"There are occasions where he is paid to speak but given he's taking on extra work and doing so on his own time, we think it's fair that he gets compensated."

On Wednesday, Toronto City Councillor Gord Perks called on the CBC to take action and described Mansbridge's speech at the CAPP event as "so very wrong."