Neil Young will bring his voice and his controversial opinions to Calgary on Sunday.
The Canadian Rocker has been an outspoken critic of the oilsands in recent weeks, comparing the development near Fort McMurray to ‘Hiroshima.’
The concert in Calgary is part of a four-stop tour to benefit the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations, who are in the midst of a legal fight against Shell Canada and its Jackpine Mine. The concerts in Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina and Calgary were organized to raise money and awareness for the group’s legal defense fund.
Young’s comments have prompted many residents of the Fort McMurray area to take to twitter, posting scenic pictures of the area, with the hashtag #myhiroshima. The images are meant to highlight the discrepancy between the rock star’s portrayal of their home and the reality outside their doors.
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers has responded to Young’s comments about the oilsands, correcting what they call “gross misrepresentations” and suggesting a meeting between oil producers and the Canadian musician.
“There is an extensive consultation process required for these projects. All of the applicants are required to do that. By Canadian law there is a requirement to consult and to reasonably accommodate,” explains CAPP President, Dave Collyer.
“I would just point out though that consultation does not necessarily mean agreement on all counts and regulators and governments at the end of the day have to make decisions with considerations for the full scope of issues around these projects.”
The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, for its part, says the issue it is trumpeting does not have to do with the ethics of the oilsands, but rather a promise to honour First Nations’ treaties.
“This is about the fact that there are social and ecological implications of the Alberta tar sands that we are not taking enough consideration, or doing enough research into; I mean that came out in the Shell Jackpine mine project which we are challenging,” says Eriel Deranger from the ACFN.
Deranger says the concerts in Toronto, Winnipeg and Regina have raised a lot of awareness and the community has received considerable support from the Canadian public.
The concert at the Jack Singer Concert Hall begins Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are sold out.
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