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OTTAWA — The Liberals are preparing an aid package for Alberta in hopes of appeasing the province if the $20-billion proposed Frontier oilsands mine is rejected, according to a report by Reuters citing anonymous sources.

As the mayors of Alberta’s two biggest cities were in Ottawa calling for fair treatment for the province, Reuters reported that approval for the project was shaping up to be a major battle within the Liberal party.

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“There will be a big fight inside cabinet over this,” Reuters quoted one source as saying adding the person was directly familiar with the matter but requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation.

“Rejecting Teck without providing Alberta something in return would be political suicide,” the source told Reuters.

Options being considered in the provincial aid package, to be featured in the upcoming budget, include a cash injection to help clean up thousands of inactive oil and gas wells abandoned by bankrupt companies, five sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.