CALGARY - Canada's oilsands industry admits it has ``dropped the ball'' in terms of informing the public about the environmental effects of its developments.

Dave Collyer, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, says the industry has not engaged effectively with Canadians, as the group presents results of a months long public outreach campaign.

Collyer was joined by Imperial Oil Ltd. (TSX:IMO) president Bruce March and Oil Sands Development Group president Don Thompson in revealed the poll of 425 people in both Edmonton and Toronto in June about their perceptions of the oilsands industry.

About 46 per cent of respondents believed oilsands companies have not done a good job in balancing the environment and the economy, while 22 per cent think the industry has achieved that balance.

Collyer says the industry may have ``dropped the ball'' on the public relations front, but that it has not failed in terms of the environment.

That said, Collyer concedes the industry has the opportunity to do better on environmental performance.

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