"Oil Company Helped Collect Evidence for Investigation Into Spill"

"An email shows federal and provincial authorities allowed Canadian Natural Resources Limited, under investigation for a serious oilsands leak, to collect some evidence in the probe."

"OTTAWA -- Federal and provincial authorities allowed a company under investigation for a serious oilsands leak to collect some evidence of the harm caused to wildlife, according to a newly released email from Environment Canada.

Both Environment Canada and the provincial Alberta Energy Regulator are investigating the company, Canadian Natural Resources Limited, over the incident, an apparent blowout in a well that released 1.2 million litres of bitumen emulsion, a mixture of heavy oil and water, in Cold Lake, Alta.

The federal department confirmed in the email, which was addressed to a wildlife organization and obtained by the Star, that it launched its investigation of the oil company to look into potential harm to migratory birds, which are protected under an international treaty."

Mike De Souza reports for the Toronto Star August 6, 2014.