Syncrude conviction could unleash flood of prosecutions: lawyer

ST. ALBERT — A conviction on federal and provincial charges stemming from the deaths of 1,600 ducks on a tailings pond could unleash a flood of private prosecutions against oilsands companies, Syncrude Canada's lawyer said Thursday, after a judge rejected his motion to dismiss the case.

Robert White told reporters the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act makes tailings ponds illegal, so a conviction could open the door to environmental groups laying multiple private charges.

"If we're convicted because we have a tailings pond ... there's nothing to prevent Sierra or Greenpeace or anybody else from filing a prosecution," White said.

Additional Excerpt: Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Mike Hudema said environmental groups can take that tack regardless of whether there's a conviction. He noted it was the Sierra Club that filed the initial charges against Syncrude over the April 28, 2008, duck deaths.