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It would have created hundreds of jobs for nearby Indigenous communities and provided $55 billion in revenue for the Alberta government to help fund programs benefiting Indigenous people, the premier said.

“But it’s over now,” said Kenney, “because of uncertainty created by uncompromising, ideological opponents of any resource development.

“So my question for the Jane Fondas and Leo DiCaprios of the world who’ve flown up to Athabasca Chipewyan Nation to say ‘leave it in the ground’ and ‘shut down the oilsands’ is, where are they now?

“What are they going to do?” he said.

“Are they going to go to their rich friends in Hollywood and raise billions of dollars to invest in a new industry in northern Alberta that can provide opportunity and revenue and a future for the young people of those Nations? No. They’ll forget all about it. They’ll forget all about that community.”

Kenney, who spoke for about half an hour and was not made available for questions from the media following his remarks, said there’s no doubt energy will continue to be in demand, but that a lack of opportunities for growth in Alberta’s oil and gas sector would mean the “world’s worst regimes” benefit.