Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach fired back Friday at environmentalists and U.S. politicians who have been critical of Alberta's oilsands.
He said Canada has "protected the back" of the U.S. and politicians south of the border should think of that before rejecting oil from Alberta.
"We've been protecting each other in the Middle East and Afghanistan, watching, protecting the backs of Americans . . . we've been good trading partners... we've been together in both World Wars," Stelmach said. "We have such a geographical blessing"
The Alberta premier said that he will take that message to the annual meeting of western U.S. governors and premiers in Wyoming this weekend.
The U.S. government is currently putting together a law that could limit American agencies from using oilsands fuels because of the large emissions associated with their production.
Earlier this week, U.S. mayors voted to encourage their administrations to ban the use of dirty fuels in the vehicles.
Stelmach argues that Alberta is a stable suppler of oil to the U.S. and that oil brought to U.S refineries by pipeline leaves a smaller carbon footprint than foreign oil brought over in tankers.
Stelmach responds to Greenpeace
The premier also criticized a website set up by Greenpeace, saying that it misinformed people about Alberta.
The website, travellingalberta.com, is set against the backdrop of oilsands development and mocks Alberta's environmental record, showing kids playing on oil-covered beaches.
"We are now in the crosshairs for many of the NGO's in not only the United States, but the world and we are going to see more of it and we have to get the correct information out there," Stelmach said. "It's disgusting."
There were fears that the website may drive tourists away from Alberta but Greenpeace said the website was clearly satirical.
With files from The Canadian Press
