New Brunswick an ally in getting landlocked Alberta crude to tidewater: Redford

CALGARY – Alberta Premier Alison Redford has found an ally in her New Brunswick counterpart when it comes to getting landlocked Alberta crude to new markets.

She says a partnership between the two provinces is a “natural fit.”

New Brunswick Premier David Alward and his energy minister, Craig Leonard, are on the third day of an Alberta tour.

Redford says the visit, which included tours of oilsands operations on Monday, reaffirmed what Alward already knew — that oilsands development benefits all of Canada.

The politicians are discussing proposals to send oilsands crude eastward by pipeline, perhaps as far as Saint John where Irving Oil runs a 300,000 barrel per day refinery.

Redford says 40 per cent of the country relies on costly imported crude rather than cheaper Canadian oil and that Alberta needs to access tidewater in order to get a fair price for its crude.