Top US diplomat wants Alberta to clean up oilsands

The US Ambassador to Canada is in Calgary with a message for the Alberta government.

He wants more done to clean up the oilsands.   

David Jacobson made the comments in a speech to hundreds of delegates at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region Summit.

The ambassador admits it will be a challenge, but he thinks it can be done.

Jacobson says the government needs to work hard with the oil industry on making the oilsands the best it can be, environmentally.

"Do everything they can to see to it that the environmental footprint of the oilsands is as small as it can possibly be.   They've done a lot already and I think they can do more," he says.

He wouldn't speculate on what the implications would be if nothing more is done.

Jacobson also touched on the recent "Rethink Alberta" campaign attacking our province because of the oilsands.

He says it doesn't make sense and adds, you can't bring about change through billboards.