Hollywood film director James Cameron called on the provincial government and industry to consider slowing the pace of oilsands development and to do more to protect the environment.
Flanked by several First Nations leaders, Cameron told a press conference Wednesday the oilsands could either be a great asset or a curse for Albertans depending on how the environmental challenges are managed.
“The world is looking at what you here in Alberta do, and the decisions that are made here are really going to shape the future of energy policy.”
Cameron toured several oilsands sites during his Alberta visit this week. He also spent time in the remote community of Fort Chipewyan and sat down for a meeting with Premier Ed Stelmach.
The Titanic and Avatar director said he particularly identified with the people of Fort Chipewyan who are concerned about water pollutants and fish deformities.
“The people in Fort Chip are afraid to drink their own water, they are afraid to eat the fish, they are afraid to let their kids swim in the river,” Cameron said. “For a community to live in fear like that we need to look into this, we need funding to do a study — and an impartial study.”
National Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo accompanied Cameron for much of his tour. Atleo said he thought the attention the director brought to the issues would be important.
“I have spent enough time with him to feel that he is absolutely genuine and that is why I think you heard a very strong, but very fair statement here.”
Cameron said the issue of oilsands mining was now a “life long” cause for him and he would help First Nations communities with financial support, while still advocating for responsible development. He said he could also potentially explore the issue with a documentary.
Canadians have always demanded more of each other and companies working in the oilsands sector should be no exception, he said.
“As a Canadian, still proud of being a Canadian, I think Canadians have higher standards. Sure we have a higher standard of living, but higher standards of morals and ethics in the way we do business.”
He said governments can also help with strong regulations and rewards for companies that bring the right technology to bear.
“They need to be incentivized if they are not currently to do the right thing going forward and to use the best practices and the best technology.”
Local MLA Ken Allred said he thought Cameron brought an open mind to the issue and he is glad the director saw everything for himself.
“I think he has shown that he is reasonable and he made some comments a year or so ago that were maybe a little bit off the cuff,” he said. “It doesn’t seem to have been that big a deal. He seems to have been very objective.”
Allred said it’s difficult to challenge the myths about the oilsands that exist in the international media.
“It always seems with the media that good stories don’t get reported internationally it is only the bad stories,” he said. “When you respond with a good news story it dies.”
