Apology Not Enough, Greenpeace Urges Stricter Environment Rules

Edmonton, Alberta (AHN) - Giant oilsands company Syncrude Canada bought full-page ads in the country's major dailies to apologize for the death of 500 ducks on its toxic waste-water pond, but environmentalists don't want to hear it.

Greenpeace on Monday called for an independent public inquiry to ensure that companies violating environment regulations will be penalized, saying the government's investigation is not enough.

"The ties between government and industry run too deep. The premier holding Syncrude to account and not holding his own government to account is definitely a flaw in serving the public interest," said Mike Hudema, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace Canada.

The ducks died April 28 after they landed on Syncrude's Aurora mine toxic waste-water pond at Fort McMurray. Syncrude admitted that they failed to provide noisemakers that would scare migrating fowls away from the water.

Syncrude CEO Tom Katinas signed the apology published in several newspapers over the weekend. The ad said it will learn from the experience and make sure that a "sad event" doesn't happen again.

Syncrude is one of the largest oilsands company worldwide.

However, Greenpeace called the apology "hollow" and urged the government to raise the current $1 million fine for oil companies who do not meet environment regulations.

"For them, a million dollars is pocket change and is the cost of doing business," Hudema said.