Prentice says Efforts to Green Oilsands Will Stop Outside Criticism

Canadian Press, Feb 12 2010--Federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice says outside criticism of Alberta's oilsands will continue unless there is a constant effort to improve their environmental impact. He was responding to an announcement by U.S. organic food store Whole Foods and home furnishings chain Bed, Bath and Beyond that they will not buy fuel derived from the oilsands.

Prentice says the companies have made their decisions and he won't try to reach out to them. But he says it's Canada's responsibility to push back against such criticisms and make it clear to the rest of the world that the country is doing the right thing environmentally.

He says Canada should continue to aspire to be an energy superpower, but the country also needs to up its game on the environmental front. Prentice pointed out that while Canada has environmental challenges with the oilsands, coal-fired power plants in the United States produce significantly more emissions.