Premier Kenney continues push to replace Russian oil with Alberta crude

Another voice is backing Premier Jason Kenney in his push for more North American oil to supplant Russian supplies during the invasion of Ukraine.

The federal Conservative Party leadership race has been making the rounds of western Canada over the last week, with leadership hopeful Pierre Poilievre making stops in Edmonton and Calgary.

His energy message is one that’s not only resonating with party supporters, but also falling in line with what Alberta’s premier is pushing — particularly the idea of increasing the province’s energy exports to the world.

“Not just for western interests, but for the national interests,” Poilievre told a crowd of about 1,000 people in Edmonton Thursday night. “Unleash the production of the most responsible and environmentally ethical energy anywhere on the Earth right here in western Canada.”

It’s another voice backing Jason Kenney in his push for more North American oil to supplant Russian supplies during the invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Kenney hosted West Virginia Democrat Senator Joe Manchin in an effort to raise the profile of the province’s resources.

Both politicians expressed disappointment at the termination of the Keystone XL oil pipeline project, which was cancelled by U.S. President Joe Biden last year on his first day in the White House.

In an interview Thursday, Kenney reiterated the federal government needs to step up.

“It would be nice if Justin Trudeau, as federal government, got in the game, selling Canadian energy as aggressively as we’re trying to do out of Alberta,” Kenney said. “He should pick up the phone, call President Biden and say the solution to the problem of rendered Russian energy exports is not Iran, Saudi or Venezuela. It’s Alberta. It’s Canada. Let’s work together.”