‘I’m not a scientist’ says Premier Stelmach
A damning University of Alberta report says toxic pollutants from oilsands development in northern Alberta are leaking into the Athabasca River — a contradiction of the province’s long-touted line that pollution from the industrialized zone near the Athabasca River is mostly natural.
The report was written after a team of researchers led by ecologist and water expert David Schindler tracked 13 toxins including lead mercury and arsenic in the river and snowpack. The pollutants were found to have increased near and downstream from the oilsands projects with seven toxins exceeding allowable levels.
Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner dismissed the report’s findings calling the toxic levels “insignificant” and Premier Ed Stelmach says the province will compare its data with that collected by Schindler’s team.
“I’m not a scientist” Stelmach said Wednesday at a press conference. “We leave it up to the professionals and have them compare notes and reach a conclusion.”
Schindler’s report published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences calls for the federal government to step in and increase surveillance.
