Premier Ed Stelmach is hoping Wednesday’s tete-a-tete with Nancy Pelosi will shift the debate over oilsands development in Alberta’s favour, reminding Americans how important the resource is to U.S. jobs and energy security.
But as the oilsands public relations war continues with U.S. legislators and environmental groups, Alberta’s energy minister and the oilpatch’s main lobby group said government and industry must open new markets.
Indeed, opposition politicians agree the province should flex some of its energy muscle — by expanding to new Asian markets — and "not be held hostage" by a single oilsands customer south of the border.
Stelmach, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Quebec’s Jean Charest are scheduled to meet today with Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, while she attends a summit of G8 speakers in Ottawa.
The Alberta and Saskatchewan premiers will look to trumpet the economic importance of oilsands development to the U.S. and also highlight efforts to reduce the environmental footprint.
It’s the first time Stelmach has been able to bend the ear of Pelosi — the third-highest ranking Democrat and key figure in setting President Barack Obama’s legislative agenda.
"Our goal there is to appeal to her sense of reason, to communicate very clearly that we are continuing to be focused on environmental improvements in developing the oilsands," Stelmach told reporters Tuesday.
The premier said the environment is the most important issue up for discussion during their meeting, as Stelmach hopes to clarify what he believes could be misconceptions about oilsands development.
He’ll also deliver a friendly reminder of the role Alberta petroleum plays in satisfying the U.S.’s insatiable appetite for energy.
"We are the No. 1 supplier of energy to the United States, and I believe her state of California, we are the No. 1 supplier of natural gas," Stelmach added. "She may be aware of it, maybe not."
Pelosi said Tuesday that energy security continues to be her "flagship issue" and that she’s anxious to engage Canadian politicians in a debate over the oilsands, the second-largest proven oil reserves in the world.
"We come to learn and listen at a time where the debate in Canada continues over oilsands and the future of energy security in North America," she said in a statement.
Paul Frazer, a former minister of public affairs at the Canadian Embassy in Washington and current lobbyist for the provincial government, believes Alberta still has an opportunity to woo key decision-makers like Pelosi on the controversial file.
"I don’t think she’s made up her mind by any means," Frazer said in an interview from Washington. "She understands the need the United States has for the energy."
U.S. legislators recognize Alberta will look to market its oilsands to other customers, he said, but they also understand the importance of energy security and don’t want to
risk losing a secure Canadian supply.
Yet, the Stelmach government must maintain a full-court press in Washington if it’s to help frame climate and energy policy in Alberta’s favour, Frazer added.
Liberal Leader David Swann said the Tories are shooting the province in the foot by failing to adopt grittier environmental measures, while current regulations on tailings ponds and protecting fresh water must be better enforced.
The Stelmach government is always playing catch-up in the PR battle over oilsands development — especially in the U.S., he said, making it all the more important to pursue a pipeline to the West Coast that can transport Alberta petroleum to Asia.
"We must not be held hostage by one market," Swann said.
Energy Minister Ron Liepert said Albertans often grumble the government should shut off the energy taps to Americans if they’re going to complain about the oilsands.
The province has always felt that expanding Alberta’s energy markets to China, India and other countries is necessary, he said. But he doesn’t believe the government should "overreact" to a small group of people in the U.S. who reject Alberta’s energy.
"There’s a lot of politics that gets played here. Clearly Nancy Pelosi, her politics is well known, and originates from the Bay area," Liepert said.
"I’m sure that she gets a lot of what I would consider to be biased information. It’s important that she hear the other side of it."
The head of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers believes industry and the government must diversify their energy markets and keep a close eye on any potential "discriminatory measures" from the U.S.
However, the U.S. also remains Canada’s most important energy customer — with substantial opportunity for growth -and that’s not going to change for the foreseeable future, said CAPP president David Collyer.
"These are diversification opportunities, not a movement away from a very established market," Collyer said.
jfekete@theherald.canwest.com
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