Dying duck pics sent to Alberta premier

EDMONTON - An admission by Premier Ed Stelmach that he had not seen recent photos of dying ducks at a Syncrude tailings pond has ruffled the feathers of Greenpeace.

The environmental group on Wednesday presented Stelmach's spokesman, Jerry Bellikka, with two enlarged photos of tar-covered ducks, hoping the premier would take a look at the images.

They were entered as evidence at the ongoing trial against Syncrude, which faces environmental charges related to the April 2008 incident in which 1,600 ducks died in its Aurora tailings pond.

"It's time he stops hiding from these images. It's time he stops denying that these problems exist and starts admitting the problem," said Mike Hudema, a Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner.

Whether Stelmach has or hasn't seen the images has been a source of controversy at the legislature this week.

On Monday, Stelmach told reporters he had not seen the pictures. The following day, he clarified his remarks, saying he hadn't seen recent photos prior to their admission as evidence in the Syncrude trial.