Greenpeace protesters rappelled from top of Calgary tower this morning to hang a banner bearing the statement “Separate Oil and State”.

Facing over downtown Calgary, the banner hung for just over an hour, according to Greenpeace spokesperson Jessica Wilson. Greenpeace and police negotiated for an amicable conclusion and arrest process, Wilson told the Tyee.

The demonstration was held to develop public awareness around the fact that despite tar sands revenues, Canada is not a petro state.

“Big oil should not be calling the shots and governments should not be ignoring the environmental destruction of the toxic tar sands,” Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Melina Laboucan-Massimo said in a statement sent to the Tyee.

The action was held as a meeting of Canada’s premiers, the Council of the Federation, is set to begin tomorrow in Winnipeg.

As the meeting begins, Greenpeace aims to highlight the allegedly “cozy relationship” that the oil industry has with politics in Canada, one that they say allows for lax regulations and industry self-monitoring.

This is the group’s latest effort in Western Canada to highlight oil issues.

Last week, Greenpeace protesters invaded Enbridge offices in Vancouver, demonstrating against dangers involved in the Northern Gateway pipeline.

The nearly 1,200-kilometer proposed pipeline, which is just entering the environmental assessment stages, would carry petrol from the tar sands to the B.C. community of Kitimat for export.

First Nations groups in B.C. are already opposing the project.

Justin Langille reports on the landscape of work for The Tyee.