Alberta's public inquiry into whether foreign money is bankrolling anti-oil protests in Canada is going into overtime.

Sonya Savage says that a review of the system has shown that at times it takes too long for Alberta's energy regulator to make decisions on whether to allow an oil and gas project to proceed.

"People are not going to have tolerance and patience for protests that get in the way of people working," Energy Minister Sonya Savage said.

Alberta's energy minister says it's a good time to build a pipeline because public health restrictions limit protests against them.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will press any government on the development of the Keystone XL pipeline, following Joe Biden's comments that he would "rip up" project approvals upon election.

Alberta's energy minister says patience in her province is wearing thin for a promised aid package from the federal government for the oil and gas sector.

"With all the injustice in the world, it's beyond rich that the unelected, unaccountable United Nations would seemingly single out Canada."

After several consecutive months of easing quotas, the Alberta government says the oil curtailment limit will remain unchanged in January following the CN Rail strike and Keystone pipeline spill in North Dakota.

Just in time for the winter drilling season, the Alberta government is hoping to boost the economy by allowing new oil wells to be drilled.

The hiring marks the second time the UCP government has appointed a former Alberta Party leader to a prominent position with a provincial entity.