WATCH: Neil Young continued to rail against the oil industry, saying of the region around the oilsands, “It’s like a war zone”
WINNIPEG – Rock legend Neil Young brought his aboriginal fundraising tour — and his criticism of the oilsands — to Winnipeg Thursday.
Global News planned to live stream a news conference with Young but the promoter refused to allow media outlets to carry it live.
The Manitoba capital was the second stop on a four-city circuit in support of a First Nation that lives downstream from the Alberta energy development.
Young is facing mounting criticism over his comments that compared the landscape around the oilsands to that of Hiroshima after the atomic bomb.
“I think his statements demonstrates pretty consistently a lack of understanding of the oilsands,” said Dave Collyer, the president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
READ MORE: Neil Young responds to criticism from Prime Minister’s Office
Federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver called them insulting and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall called the remarks ignorant.
The president of Cenovus Energy, Brian Ferguson, said environmental groups and Hollywood celebrities have been making baseless accusations about the oilsands.
Young told journalists Thursday he never claimed to be an expert.
“As far as me not knowing what I am talking about, everybody knows that,” said the one-time Winnipegger.
READ MORE: Neil Young accused of not understanding oilsands
Young has been taking strong political positions for decades.
READ MORE: Neil Young raises his voice against Canada’s oilsands
He is to perform on Friday in Regina and in Calgary on Sunday as part of the “Honor The Treaties” tour in support of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. The community is in a legal battle to protect traditional territory from further industrialization.
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