Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has responded to the Federal Election results in legislature.

He has promised Albertans he will continue to fight for equality, a fair deal and our energy sector in the face of a minority Liberal Government.

The Premier released a five page letter directed to Justin Trudeau, where he outlines what Albertans will put up with and what they wont.

On his list of must haves is a quick approval to build the Trans Mountain Pipeline, a reform or direct scrap of the equalization policy and a voice for the west in Parliament.

Kenney says he and the rest of Western Canada are concerned the TMX pipeline will be used as a bargaining chip.

"I think there has always been some concern in Alberta that the Federal Government is not completely committed to it's completion. One can imagine a scenario in a minority government, where parties that hold the balance of power might try to negotiate their support on confidence matters such as a budget, contingent upon federal withdrawal from TMX." Kenney adds "What I'm saying is that would be totally unacceptable and if the Prime Minister means what he said last night about listening to Alberta and Saskatchewan, the clearest way to do so would be to unequivocally commit this new government to the completion of the pipeline that the federal government owns."

Kenney also says he's committed to pursuing the partial sale of the pipeline to aboriginal groups, and has even offered to help facilitate that.

The bottom line he says, is to focus.

"With a lot of issues on the plate here, and a lot of anger and frustration in Alberta, I want people to keep their eyes on the prize and focus on the most important economic imperative, which is the completion of that pipeline."

Why would Trudeau listen to anything Alberta and the rest of the west have to say though? With support offered from parties like the Green Party of Canada and the New Democrat Party, Albertans are questioning if the Prime Minister will care what they want.

Kenney says if Trudeau wants to create a unified Canada, then he really has no choice.

"Our approach is not to be dogmatic, our approach is to defend our vital economic interests. To do that, it may require some give and take with the federal government. I would also point out to the Prime Minister that on many of the issues I've spoken about, we have the support of all or most of the other provinces. Nine of ten provinces are in opposition of Bill C-69, several provinces are opposed to the application of the Carbon Tax, Nine of Ten Provinces are in favour of national energy corridors including oil and gas pipelines." Kenney says "Alberta still plays a hugely oversized role in national prosperity and the finances of the federal government. If he (Justin Trudeau) wants to strengthen national unity, and the Canadian economy, then he needs to listen to the Provinces that produce a disproportionate amount of wealth in this federation."

Kenney has told Prime Minister Trudeau that he and Albertans want to see action on equalization and they want it now.

"We don't object to sharing some of our wealth. What we object to is Ottawa and some provincial governments expecting us to pay those bills without allowing us to develop the wealth to do so."

As for the growing separatist movement in Alberta, Kenney says he's not on board.

"I really believe at heart, most Albertans are patriots. We are proud of what we've done together as Canadians. Secondly we should not let Justin Trudeau and his policies make us feel unwelcome in our own country and thirdly, I would say we have allies across Canada. We're not isolated and we are not alone."

He says land locking the province, would also be counter productive.

"Landlocking ourselves through separation is not a solution to the problem of a campaign to landlock Alberta. The Green left have been leading a campaign to landlock our energy, why would we give them what they want by landlocking Alberta within North America as a jurisdiction that has no argument for access to the coasts and for that matter a jurisdiction that would fall out of NAFTA."

To see the letter Premier Jason Kenney sent to Justin Trudeau the day after the election click here.

 

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