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Avatar’s Cameron meets Stelmach, Notley
News Articles | CBC News | September 29, 2010
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Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta NDP environment critic Rachel Notley spent time with James Cameron on Wednesday morning during the Canadian-born director’s trip to learn more about the oilsands’ impact on communities.
At a breakfast meeting, Notley shared her views on oilsands development with Cameron, and stressed concerns that Alberta needs a strong environmental protection regime.
Notley said she believes unfettered development will hurt the prosperity of the province and community health.
Later Wednesday morning, Cameron sat down with Premier Ed Stelmach to discuss the impact of the oilsands on northeastern Alberta.
While speaking to reporters on his way into the Alberta legislature in Edmonton, Cameron was asked about reports that suggested he will provide financial or fundraising support to help the people of Fort Chipewyan sue the government.
“What I said was I was there to support whatever needs to be done if they choose to take legal action that’s their right and I’m not going to encourage that one way or the other,” he said.
The director of Hollywood hits such as Titanic and Avatar is expected to hold a news conference at approximately 12:45 p.m. MT.
Stelmach is expected to hold a news conference at 2:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, Cameron, who was born in Kapuskasing, Ont., toured the oilsands and met with industry executives and First Nations leaders.
After their sitdown with Cameron, the people of Fort Chipewyan feel they have a new ally in their fight to keep their lands and waters clean.
Cameron also met Wednesday with well-known University of Alberta water scientist, David Schindler. Last month, Schindler published a study linking oilsands development to toxins in the Athabasca River.
During a UN forum in New York earlier this year, Cameron called the oilsands a “black eye” on Canada’s image as an environmental leader. His comments prompted Stelmach to invite the director to visit Alberta and see the oilsands for himself.
Tagged with: first nations, alberta, avatarsands, cbc news
