By an OGJ Online Correspondent
CALGARY, May 29 -- US Vice-Pres. Dick Cheney will meet in Washington, DC, June 14 with Alberta Premier Ralph Klein to discuss Alberta's role in the proposed Bush administration continental energy policy.
Klein, political head of Canada's major petroleum producing province, is expected to discuss oil sands development in Northern Alberta and the province's expertise in pipelines relative to Arctic development and mainline connections in Alberta to southern markets.
Klein, a political conservative noted for deficit reduction and tax cuts, will be accompanied by Michael Kergin, Canadian ambassador to the US. Alberta Energy Minister Murray Smith is also expected to join the group for talks with Cheney.
Smith met with US energy officials in Washington earlier this month.
Klein is expected to make the point that Alberta has full ownership of its natural resources under the Canadian Constitution and that the province, not the Canadian federal government, has control.
He will also emphasize the importance to any continental energy plan of the oil sands in northern Alberta, already under extensive development and with recoverable reserves of 300 billion bbl under current technology.
