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“No apology if this sounds bellicose,” says UCP Leader Jason Kenney, explaining why he believes Alberta should fight back hard against anti-oil activists.

The counter-attack shouldn’t just come from government, according to Kenney. He insists that industry leaders join his battle.

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If he’s elected, he says, “I will call in the CEOs of major oil companies and tell them they’ve got to get in this game.”

“I’ve got a new definition of ‘social licence.’ If they want to develop our resources, they’d darn well better start fighting for the industry. I want to see some energy companies take the fight to these (anti-oil) groups.”

Kenney sure did sound combative in our year-end interview — but then, so does much of the province today.

With pro-oil demonstrations springing up from north to south, Kenney’s hard line seems in sync with deepening anger among many Albertans as the province heads for an election to be held between March 1 and May 31.