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It has to be clear by now. Care Bear diplomacy isn’t working for Alberta.

The province takes one economic blow after another from Canadians, despite NDP Premier Rachel Notley’s cheery efforts to make friends across the country.

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Tuesday’s flat rejection of the Energy East pipeline by 82 Montreal-area municipalities means Alberta is now under virtual economic blockade.

Every cross-border project that matters to the energy industry is stymied by objections from provinces, municipalities and interest groups.

And it’s a funny thing — the objectors seldom mention Alberta’s noble climate change policy, the one that was supposed to soften opposition to pipelines.

One rare exception came Friday, when Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, after meeting Notley, said her climate change plans makes the pipeline debate easier.

But she talked in the same generalities premiers use to cover off their growing worry about local groups that are intent, sometimes literally, on blockade.

Montreal’s rejection was announced even though the National Energy Board’s long review process for the $15.7-billion Energy East project has hardly begun.

The board doesn’t have a full application from TransCanada Ltd. Only a few preliminary hearings have been held. A final report is likely years away.