U.S. ambassador studies oilsands

The man who will have U.S. President Barack Obama's ear when it comes to Canadian issues was in Alberta Monday to meet with Premier Ed Stelmach and learn about the oilsands.

David Jacobson, U.S. ambassador to Canada, says he has already flown over the oilsands as part of his research.

"The thing that was the most memorable for me was seeing the boreal forest for the first time," Jacobson said. "The notion that as far as the eye could see and thousands of miles further there was forest. For a guy who comes from Illinois where we don't have that, it really was extraordinary."

Jacobson called Canada "a pillar in the energy security of the United States", and calledenergy and environment twin issues. But he saidhe has not yet formed an opinion about the impact of oilsands development.

"I'm still in the learning phase. I don't have a message yet," Jacobson said.

"What I want to do is to hear the views from as many different perspectives as I can, so that I can when I do have an opportunity to provide my views to the president, that I can provide them in as accurate and as fair a way as I can."

Jacobson says he is not only talking to government officials, but to environmentalists and First Nations communities as well.