Canada probes deaths of hundreds of ducks (AP/CNN) {oil sands pond}

[eppur_se_muova]

FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta (AP) -- Canada's government was investigating an oil-sands company after hundreds of ducks that landed on a partially frozen pond filled with toxic waste died.

A flock of about 500 migrating mallards landed on the pond owned by the oil-sands company Syncrude Canada Ltd. earlier this week in Alberta. About five of the birds that landed were saved, officials said Wednesday.

The oil-sands project sits along a major flyway for migrating waterfowl, and the province requires that all such ponds have noisemaking devices to scare the birds and prevent them from landing.

But Syncrude spokesman Alain Moore said a recent snowstorm delayed the deployment of 13 propane-powered cannons, which are used from spring to fall to deter birds from entering ponds.

"We had a rapid spring thaw on the weekend, and we were beginning to deploy , but that's when we came across the tragic occurrence of these ducks landing," Moore said.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/05/01/canada.ducks.ap/index.html

[navarth]

1. I hate the idea of Canada becoming as evil as we are

but there's a chance it's happening.

[GliderGuider]

2. We're one Conservative majority government away from it

If Harper gets a majority in the next election we will be joining you on the frictionless slope to Hell.

Welcome to the new New World Order. This ain't your hippy uncle's New World Order.