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NDP demands release of duck photos
News Articles | The Montreal Gazette | Trish Audette | March 02, 2010
Read the full article on the originating site
EDMONTON — The NDP is challenging the province’s refusal to release images of the 1,600 ducks killed in a northern Alberta tailings pond two years ago.
The two-person opposition party began demanding release of the photos through Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation in July 2008.
In April 2008, hundreds of birds landed in a Syncrude tailings pond near Fort McMurray. Covered in the oily residue that sits atop the water, most of them quickly sank.
The provincial government denied the photo request on several grounds, citing concerns about Syncrude’s right to a fair trial and the possibility the investigation could be compromised.
Video and photographs of the scene at Syncrude’s Aurora site are expected to be presented in the coming weeks at a trial in St. Albert. Some photos were tabled as evidence on Monday as the trial opened.
But NDP Leader Brian Mason said the question will be which of the pictures are made public.
Before the trial began, the only images Albertans have seen from the incident are of ducks being cleaned. Only five ducks were recovered, and just three survived.
“They’re trying to control the message here,” Mason said.
“They’re afraid of that image coming out, because they’re afraid Albertans will see how negligent the government and industry have been up there.”
Syncrude has pleaded not guilty to charges under the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act. The NDP wrote a letter to Privacy Commissioner Frank Work on Monday, asking that their Freedom of Information request — and responses from the government — be reviewed.
“Alberta Environment’s refusal to disclose this information for almost two years warrants investigation to ensure that public authorities do not manipulate the FOIP Act to serve their own political purposes,” NDP researcher Sarah Hoffman wrote.
A spokesman for Work said his office would review the NDP’s concerns when they receive the letter.
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/demands+release+duck+photos/2628423/story.html#ixzz0hE2ojUUK
Tagged with: syncrude, ducks, tailings ponds
