Federal Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr kicked off his pipeline sales mission in Calgary, a day after the government sanctioned two major projects.
READ MORE: Did Justin Trudeau break his word by approving pipelines?
Carr framed the approval of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain and Enbridge (TSX:ENB) Line 3 pipelines as the culmination of a thorough and improved assessment process that heard from more than 35,000 Canadians.
He agreed that he saw his role as a cheerleader for the projects now that they have been approved, saying the decisions spoke volumes about the government’s view of their necessity.
READ MORE: Alberta Premier Rachel Notley to head to B.C. to sell merits of Trans Mountain pipeline
Carr said he would explain to Canadians why the government sees the projects as in the national interest, and why benefits to the economy outweigh the environmental impacts.
Pointing to safety requirements, regulatory oversight, and new advisory panels, Carr also emphasized the high standards under which the projects were approved.
He said he welcomed people expressing their opposition to the pipelines, as long as they did it peacefully.
READ MORE: Kinder Morgan pipeline approval – Opponents ‘prepared to go to jail’ protest in Vancouver
Watch below: What a difference 24 hours makes. After two years of struggles, Alberta’s oil industry is starting to feel a sense of optimism again. As Tom Vernon reports, pipeline project approvals and a surge in the price of oil have some believing a comeback may be in the cards.