Dead Ducks put company in a flap

In a development that brings grim, new meaning to the phrase “dead duck,” Syncrude Canada Ltd is facing criticism and possible fines over an incident which has led to the deaths of more than 1,600 ducks.

Originally, Syncrude estimated that some 500 migratory birds died after they landed on the company’s Aurora Tailings toxic-waste pond in April.

As early as July, however, chief executive Tom Katinas knew this number was much higher, at around 1,606 dead birds.

Syncrude representatives were not immediately forthcoming with the information on the higher death rate.

Syncrude now faces possible federal and provincial charges over the incident, although the increased number of deaths will not affect these likely recriminations.

Since the ducks’ deaths, Syncrude, has outlined steps the company is instituting to keep birds off the toxic-waste ponds.

One plan is to deploy scare cannons to drive away the birds.

It also plans to add wind motion and reflectors to the scarecrows, which are already in place.

Largely because of the Syncrude incident, Ottawa plans to toughen its environmental fines for companies such as Syncrude.

Jim Prentice, the Federal Environment Minister, said that for a company the size of Syncrude, fines should be in the multimillion dollar range, far more than the $800,000 that Syncrude currently faces.