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Edmonton — Greenpeace is demanding a public inquiry into the deaths of 500 ducks that landed on a lake-sized tailings pond at the Syncrude Canada oilsands plant in northern Alberta.
Greenpeace activist Mike Hudema stood on the steps of the Alberta legislature today and called on the province to appoint an independent board to investigate last week's waterfowl disaster.
Mr. Hudema also said independent wildlife and environmental experts should be sent out to search other tailings ponds for dead wildlife.
ConocoPhillips Canada reported Saturday that eight birds, including three loons, had settled on a briny pond at the company's oil sands project northeast of Fort McMurray.
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Mr. Hudema says it's becoming evident that the 500 ducks represent just a fraction of the wildlife being affected by the toxic ponds used to hold oilsands wastes.
He also says whistleblowers are playing a key role in alerting the public, so Greenpeace wants the province to offer job protection for people who make those calls.
