DAVOS, Switzerland — As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prepares to leave a meeting of the world's economic and financial elites, he has a pipeline battle brewing at home.
The Energy East pipeline has pitted oil-rich Alberta against its neighbours to the east, with Ontario placing seven conditions on its support for the project, 82 Montreal-area municipalities coming out against the project and the premier of New Brunswick saying it would create badly needed jobs.
While hobnobbing with some of the world's most influential people at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trudeau had to defend Canada against what he called inflamed rhetoric about oil from movie star Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Opposition Conservatives want Trudeau to state where he stands on the Energy East line, which would carry Alberta oil towards the Atlantic coast.
Trudeau says his role is to find a way to get everyone to work together, to balance the economy and the environment and get Canada's resources to market in a responsible way.
He told a luncheon in Davos that the Liberals will be partners to all regions, including Alberta.
His comments came two days after Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi questioned Trudeau's keynote address to the forum, in which he told delegates that he wanted them to know Canada more for its resourcefulness and less for its resources.
