Tim Hortons yanks Enbridge ads, sparks Alberta backlash

Canadian coffee chain giant TimHortonsseems to bemuch more comfortableserving double-doubles than navigating the trickyworld of pipeline politics.

Facing pressure from some anti-pipelinecustomers,Tim Hortonshas announced itwill no longer be running advertisements for Enbridge.

The spots had been airing for close to three weeks on screens atmore than 1,500 Tim Hortons locations between British Columbia andOntario on Tims TV.

An online petition from agroup called SumOfUs urgedTimHortons to yank the ads, accusing the company of "shilling" forthe oilsands shipper.

Tim Hortons responded to several Twitter users by saying itvalues the feedback and the ads will no longer be airing on Tims TV.The campaign was supposed to run for another week.

The SumOfUs group claimed victory after the ads were pulled.

"Enbridge was using the trusted brand of Tim Hortons to sell a skeptical public on a project," saidEmma Pullman, a campaigner withSumOfUs in Vancouver. "Enbridge is going to have to do more than glossy ads to get social licence to build this project."

Enbridge downplayed the abrupt end to its ad campaign

"Weenjoyed workingwithTimsand respectits decision," saidEnbridgespokesman Graham White in a statement.

Alberta backlash

The move by Tim Hortonsis not going over well in oil-friendly Alberta. Customers are pledging their own boycott. Politicians, includingDefence Minister Jason Kenney,took to Twitter to voice their support for Enbridge.

"I'm proud to represent thousands of constituents who work for Enbridge & other CDN energy companies," wrote Kenney, who representsthe riding of Calgary Southeast.

Marketing experts question whetherTimHortonsover-reacted to the onlinepetition.

"Enbridge, of course, is not just pipelines and oilsands;they are a whole range of products including heating people's homes," said Alan MiddletonofYork University."Tims should have thought about that."

Tim Hortons did not immediately respond torequests for comment.

Enbridge's$7.9-billionNorthern Gateway pipeline, whichwould shipoilsandsbitumen from Alberta to the west coast, is a controversial project.

While approved by the federal government, the pipeline must clearseveral hurdles:

• Meet 209 conditions;fewer than 30 have been fully completed.
• Bring aboriginal communities onside;26 of 45 have signed up.
• Deal with First Nations court challenges.
• Secure continued commercial support.
• Satisfy British Columbia's conditions.