Federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair says his tour of the Alberta oilsands has shown him just how massive the industry is and how important it is to manage development properly.  However, Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk doesn't seem to agree.

Mulcair toured the oilsands Thursday morning and met with Fort McMurray mayor Melissa Blake.  He then met with Lukaszuk before holding a news conference. Lukaszuk says he doesn't think Mulcair appreciates the importance of the oil sands to the entire country,"His understanding of our economic impact on the rest of the country is somewhat surprising. I expect seasoned politicians to have a much more thorough understanding, but let me give him the benefit of the doubt."

Speaking at the legislature after his visit to Fort McMurray, Mulcair said his beef is not with oilsands operators or the province, but with the federal government. He says Ottawa doesn't enforce its own environmental laws, meaning companies don't have to pay to clean up land, air and water that they pollute. Mulcair also restated his position that development of the oilsands is artificially inflating the dollar and hurting all sectors of the economy.