“Yes, we need to grow our economy, yes, we need to get our resources in the markets. But we also have to make sure that we’re thinking about the long-term protection of the environment,” he said.
Though Trudeau was met with a warm welcome by supporters at both events, Calgary isn’t exactly a Liberal stronghold. Some Albertans see him as the instigator of contentious bills C-48, which bans oil tankers from a northern portion of the British Columbia coast, and C-69, which changes Canada’s environmental assessment procedure.
There’s a deep-seated sense for many that the province’s slowing oil sector and economic downturn are Liberal doings.
Kenney has made it no secret that he blames the federal Liberals for not doing enough to support the energy industry, as well as for delays to the Trans Mountain Pipeline, which Trudeau announced the government would approve in June.
On Stampede grounds, Albertan Matthew Wock strongly agreed. He said he feels the overall sentiment towards Trudeau in Alberta is “pretty poor,” and that despite Ottawa’s approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline, people don’t believe he has Alberta’s best interests in mind.
He said he hopes that recent provincial elections such as the ones in Ontario and Alberta are an indication that the upcoming federal election might swing in the Conservatives’ favour.
Others, who did not want to provide their names, expressed similar views, saying they don’t think Trudeau cares about Alberta the way he claims to, and that he’s more concerned about his voter bases in Ontario and British Columbia.
