OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country's oil-and-gas extraction industry spent $2.8 billion to protect the environment in 2006, more than any other industry.

The agency says Alberta businesses invested the most in facilities and equipment to protect the environment, again surpassing Ontario, the largest spender up until 2002.

Capital investment by businesses in Alberta for environmental protection amounted to nearly $1.9 billion in 2006, almost 49 per cent of the capital expenditures nationally.

Ontario businesses reported $827 million in capital expenditures, followed by those in Quebec, with $371 million.

Ontario industry reported spending almost $1.6 billion in operating expenses for environmental protection, while Alberta businesses were a close second with operating expenses of just over $1.3 billion.

In 2006, $4 of every $100 invested by oil-and-gas extraction went to environmental protection.