Feds urged to keep oil out of trade war

Alberta’s energy minister says Ottawa and B.C. have no right to use the province’s oil and gas as a bargaining chip in the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S., as suggested by B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell.

Greg Melchin said Alberta’s coveted oil and gas reserves are, as are the resources of any other province, not to be used as pawns in any disagreement over trade, and should not be treated as such by Prime Minister Paul Martin or any premier.