Oilsand fears wrestle benefits
Majority of Albertans don't buy 'dirty oil' label
Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald // September 14, 2008
Albertans appear conflicted about the massive oilsands -- a resource nearly everyone agrees is an economic bonanza for the province, but one many feel is accompanied by a worrying array of environmental and human health effects.
In a wide-reaching Leger Marketing poll of 962 Albertans focused on their impressions of the oilsands, respondents were clearly concerned about the industry's impacts, especially when it comes to health complaints.
However, poll results also suggest Albertans dislike terms such as "dirty oil," which has come into common parlance in the past 18 months as environmental concerns about the oilsands get greater national and international attention.
Six of 10 respondents reject the idea bitumen produced from oilsands should be considered "dirty oil" because of its impact on the environment, while three of 10 respondents believe the label is correct. Nearly 10 per cent of people didn't have an opinion.
Alberta Finance Minister Iris Evans calls it a "highly offensive term," while Greenpeace activist Mike Hudema considers the description "appropriate." But everyone from environmental activists to oilpatch executives agrees the oilsands are under unprecedented scrutiny.
Alberta holds the largest concentration of oilsands in the world, according to the provincial government. The resource has attracted more than $100 billion in investment. But because the bitumen is embedded in sand and clay, it takes much more energy and water to extract the resource than conventional oil. There has long been criticism of its toll on the province's land and water, and the significant output of greenhouse gases.
This spring, mounting concerns about its environment impacts came to a head when 500 ducks were coated and killed in oily toxic sludge after landing in an oilsands tailing pond. Their deaths sparked worldwide media coverage, and the circumspection continues.
"We really haven't been doing a very good job of listening to peoples' concerns," said Matt Fox, vice-president of oilsands for ConocoPhillips.
Oilsands companies are striving to do better, he added.
Albertans appear to be more preoccupied with the health impacts of the oilsands than the environmental fallout, the Leger poll shows.
While 56 per cent of respondents are worried about the impact of oilsands development on the environment, more than seven in 10 said they're worried about the health effects.
Perhaps the most worried about the health effects are the Mikisew Cree, the Athabasca Chipewyan and other northern Alberta native groups considering legal action to halt further approval of oilsands projects. They want the government and industry to study more extensively the development's impacts and find better ways to mitigate them.
Some native residents believe contaminants from oilsands tailing ponds have polluted the Athabasca River and Lake, and may be responsible for rare types of cancer in the community, poor water quality and other health issues.
"The community of Fort Chipewyan is the only area in the province that has been raising the issue of health and the oilsands," said George Poitras, a spokesman for the Mikisew Cree First Nation.
"I think other people in Alberta are aware. Do they care? I hope they do." Poitras said community leaders will be meeting with lawyers this week.
"It's a question of who will be the lucky recipient of the legal action," Poitras said, refusing to provide further details.
Leger pollster Marc Tremblay isn't surprised Albertans appear to be placing greater emphasis on the potential health impacts associated with the oilsands.
"It is a more immediate concern," Tremblay said.
"If it's the environment, well, it's not in their backyard. It's perhaps a little more removed." Across the province, people are almost evenly split on the question of whether environmentalists have greatly exaggerated the negative effects of oilsands production.
The Leger Marketing opinion poll was conducted online with a randomly selected group of 962 Albertans, between Aug. 25 to 29.
The margin of error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
