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The singer, speaking to reporters before his Massey Hall concert, said he supports First Nations in their fight against expanding oilsands projects because of their destructive impact on the environment.

"I see a government completely out of control, and money is number one. Integrity isn't even on the map," he said.

Young said he toured one of 50 oilsands sites with his son and was shocked at "the ugliest thing I've ever seen. It`s the greediest, most destructive and most disrespectful demonstration of something that has run amok."

In September last year, Young likened the economic impact of the oilsands in Fort McMurray to Hiroshima after the atomic bomb. This sparked real controversy, but he refuses to tone down his comments.

"I stand by what I said. I drove around the tarsands and I felt the toxicity in my throat and eyes 25 miles away. My son has cerebral palsy and lung damage and he had to wear a mask. We saw what is considered the cleanest site and it was one of the ugliest things I've ever seen. People are dying of cancer because of this. All the First Nations people up there are threatened by this.”

Young was especially vitriolic about Canada's current government, declaring that  "the Harper government is a poor imitation of the Bush administration and is an embarrassment to any Canadian." He also served a warning: "Don't accept what you hear from them about the tarsands. That is marketing, not the truth."

Proceeds from Young's concerts are earmarked for the legal fight of Albertan aboriginal band Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) against the expansion of the Athabasca development in that province, and to off-set costs in similar project disputes.

Joining Young at the Toronto press conference were ACFN chief Allan Adam and communication co-ordinator Eriel Deranger, climate change expert Andrew Weaver, and environmental authority/activist David Suzuki, who moderated. As Suzuki noted. it was Young's presence there that elicited strong media interest. "If you're all here for me, that's a sorry state of affairs", the singer joked self-deprecatingly.

All onstage gave a short speech on the topic of the oilsands and the ways in which Canada's treaty obligations to first nations peoples have been neglected with their unfettered and destructive development.

Adam termed the oilsands development "a runaway train with no conductor. There will be a catastrophic ending to this". ACFN is now fighting against the expansion of Shell Canada's Jackpine mine approved by regulators last month, while other First Nations are also fighting oilsands projects.

It is hoped that the Honour The Treaties concerts will raise at least $75,000. Late Sunday (Jan. 12) over 600 people had pledged $33, 292.00. The tour, which also features Canadian jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall, stops at Winnipeg Centennial Hall on Jan. 16, Regina Conexus Arts Centre, Jan.17, and Calgary's Jack Singer Concert Hall, Jan. 19.

More information on this topic can be found at www.drawtheline.ca