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NDP Leader Rachel Notley says that if she becomes premier she would initiate a review of Alberta’s energy royalty system and withdraw provincial government support of the Northern Gateway pipeline.

But Notley — fresh from a strong performance in Thursday’s leaders debate and looking to build support in Calgary ahead of the May 5 election — told the Herald editorial board Friday that an NDP government would be supportive of an oil and gas industry which “must remain sustainable.”

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“We are an energy economy. That’s what we are, that’s our strength,” she said.

“So we need to build on that. But … we can’t squander it. And I’m a little concerned that’s where we’ve been heading up until now.”

The prospect of a royalty review has been an untouchable issue in Alberta politics since former Tory premier Ed Stelmach’s revamped royalty regime in 2007 prompted a huge backlash from the industry and helped fuel the growth of the Wildrose Party.