On a visit to Calgary, energy minister says he'll be a 'voice for Alberta'

OTTAWA — Newly minted Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said he’s “committed to a clean slate” in his maiden speech in Calgary, promising to turn the page on a decade of mistrust between Alberta and the Liberal government in Ottawa. He stressed that his roots in Western Canada made him the right person to heal divisions over natural resource development in Alberta and other western provinces. “I may live in Toronto now but I was born in the Prairies,” Hodgson said in remarks to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce on Friday morning. “I want you to understand that I will be a voice for Alberta and Western Canada at the cabinet table.” Hodgson said that Canada would “remain a reliable global supplier” of oil and gas under his watch. He also promised to deliver new infrastructure to get Canadian energy to the coast and ultimately “to trusted allies” outside the U.S. “It’s high time to trade more with people who share our values — not just our border,” said Hodgson. The new energy minister also repeated Prime Minister Mark Carney’s campaign promise to fast-track projects of national interest, including major energy projects. “No more five-year reviews – decisions will come in two years for all projects… It’s about making ‘One Project, One Review’ real,” said Hodgson. Hodgson, who crossed paths with Carney at investment banking group Goldman Sachs, and later worked under him at the Bank of Canada, pledged to see through the new prime minister’s vision to “build Canada into a conventional and clean energy and natural resources superpower.” He closed his remarks with a call to national unity, stressing that “a strong Canada needs a strong Alberta.” Hodgson, a rookie MP, was appointed last week to Carney’s 28-member cabinet , leapfrogging several more experienced Liberal caucus members. He said in his first public appearance as a cabinet member that he looked forward to “digging in” and planned to visit Western Canada “very soon.” Hodgson kicked off his western swing with a visit to Regina on Thursday. National Post rmohamed@postmedia.com Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.