William Marsden wins business book award

This year's National Business Book Award winner is William Marsden for Stupid to the Last Drop: How Alberta is Bringing Environmental Armageddon to Canada (and doesn't seem to care), published by Knopf Canada.

In his book, Marsden argues that Alberta is sacrificing a sustainable future for short-lived prosperity from the oil and gas industry. He claims the government is ignoring the environmental devastation caused by 300,000 oil and gas wells dotting the province's landscape. A tour of the oil sands provides a first-hand account of workers driving the boom of the 24/7 industry.

Marsden interviews experts who predict the industry's impact will sap Alberta's water supply, destroy rangeland, wipe out forests and wildlife, and increase greenhouse gas emissions. Marsden paints a bleak picture of a province causing its own destruction.

In its 23rd year, the National Business Book Award is considered one of Canada's most prestigious and respected literary awards. Co-sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and BMO Financial Group, the National Business Book Award honours the author of an outstanding Canadian business-related book with a $20,000 prize.

In addition to The Honourable William G. Davis, this year's jury included: Jane Cooney, president, Books for Business; William Dimma, chairman, Home Capital Group Inc.; Anne Kingston, journalist and winner of the 1994 National Business Book Award; and Peter Mansbridge, chief correspondent, CBC Television Network.

The Honourable William Davis announced that he will be stepping down as Chairman of the jury after many years of service. The new Chairman of the jury is Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Management.

William Marsden is co-author of the international bestsellers Angels of Death and The Road to Hell. He is an award-winning senior investigative reporter for the Gazette in Montreal.