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Alberta hires former journalist to create strategy to fight criticism of oil and gas industry

A dump truck works near the Syncrude oil sands extraction facility near the city of Fort McMurray, Alberta on Sunday June 1, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

The Alberta government has hired a former journalist to develop a plan to fight back against oil and gas industry foes.

Claudia Cattaneo retired last year as the National Post’s western business columnist based in Calgary.

Energy Minster Sonya Savage says Cattaneo has joined “the fight against lies and myths being spread about Alberta’s energy industry.”

READ MORE: Environmental groups say Premier Jason Kenney’s ‘war room’ threats won’t distract them

Watch below: Some Global News videos about the Alberta government’s plans to fight critics of the province’s energy sector.

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The United Conservative government’s so-called fight-back strategy includes rebutting critics through a rapid-response war room and investigating funding of environmental charities.

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Alberta Energy spokesman Charles Mainville says Cattaneo’s contract is for three months and covers the fight-back strategy as a whole, not just the war room.

Cattaneo is to present her strategic plan to the government this fall.

“Reporting the truth about the energy industry was at the centre of Claudia’s distinguished career,” Savage said in a release Thursday. “She is uniquely qualified to help us take action. I look forward to receiving her insights and benefiting from her years of experience.”

Watch below: Three of the biggest producers in Alberta’s oilsands are appealing directly to Canadians ahead of this fall’s federal election. Tom Vernon explains why.

Click to play video: '3 major oil firms ask voters to support energy industry'
3 major oil firms ask voters to support energy industry

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