Notley has promised to review royalty rates during her four-year term a premier of the province that produces 78 per cent of Canada’s oil and gas. However, a number of oilpatch executives have warned a low-price environment isn’t time to add to the burden on business — particularly with royalties.

Oil and gas producers have made severe cuts to spending and dividend payments and laid off more than 4,500 workers in addition to the 23,000 jobs lost with the fall-off in drilling this year.

It’s the opposite story for Canadian Pacific.

The 135-year-old company posted a record $320-million profit in the traditionally challenging first quarter, it has become an industry leader in key operating metrics and its market capitalization has risen from $8 billion to $38 billion since Harrison became chief executive in 2012.

The railway posted a record $1.48 billion profit in 2014.

“As somebody once said, ‘it’s not bragging, it’s just fact,’ ” Harrison said in his Tennessee drawl.

Harrison acknowledged the tough times facing companies in the oilpatch these days — about six per cent of CP’s business is transporting crude oil — in offering to pay higher fuel taxes. Railroads were exempted from the four-cent-per-litre tax in Prentice’s March budget.

“If they ask us, or if they impose another per cent or two of fuel tax we’re not going to lay down and cry,” he said, noting Alberta has one of the lower provincial fuel tax rates.

Harrison’s comments suggest Prentice didn’t consult him on the budget.

Prentice joined CP’s board of directors in July 2013 but left shortly after last year’s annual meeting to resume his political career and become Alberta premier. After a 50 per cent decline in oil prices, Prentice brought forward an austerity budget and called the fateful election.

The often-brash Harrison said he would “hesitate” to make a political comment but then bemoaned the slow pace of implementing safer rail tank cars in North America. He also criticized the recent demand by Canadian and U.S. governments to install electronic brakes on tanker cars and said there are better ways to spend money to improve rail safety.

His hesitancy to talk politics notwithstanding, Harrison said he’d reach out to Notley to discuss the issues facing CP and the industry.

Presumably, Prentice would’ve appreciated a similar call.

Stephen Ewart is a Calgary Herald columnist