EDMONTON—Justin Trudeau, in a sprint through Opposition-held ridings in the west, rebutted his critics in Alberta and pledged to have the province’s “back.”

In an Edmonton riding up for grabs after an NDP incumbent didn’t run again, Trudeau staked his party’s claim for votes. He portrayed himself a friend of Alberta.

“I’ve made a point of coming to Alberta, and to Edmonton, many, many times since I became prime minister because this province, and its people, matter,” Trudeau told a rally.

“Alberta has been key to Canada’s economic success over the course of our history. But we know that recently times have been tough for Albertans, and that’s led to increased anxiety for many. But just as you have been there to contribute so much to Canada over the years, so too will the people from the rest of Canada be there for you.”

“I made a promise and my government will always hold by it, that we will never pit regions of this country against each other, and you can rest assured that we will always have your back.”

Trudeau never mentioned his main rival Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, nor Alberta’s Premier Jason Kenney who vowed to actively campaign against the Liberal leader in the federal campaign.

A few dozen protesters outside waved placards of opposing messages on pipelines and climate change, while others were anti-fur demonstrators.

Inside another man heckled Trudeau before being removed by security. But the crowd of 500 Liberal supporters ate it up.

The Liberal leader‘s message may not displace his father’s memory in a province where Pierre Trudeau’s energy policy still rankles and Kenney and Scheer have a broad base of support.

But Trudeau touted his government’s investments “in local oil and gas workers, and our women and men in the skilled trades, who will directly benefit because our government stepped up and bought the Trans Mountain Expansion project.”

Outside, protester Patrick King, an unemployed oil and gas sector worker, said Trudeau has “sold out” Alberta.

“If he had Alberta’s back he would have that pipeline in the ground by now.”

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Trudeau’s pep speech to support local candidate Eleanor Olszewski came at the end of a day when the national leader’s tour hit three NDP- and one Conservative-held ridings in the west in a dash through B.C. and Alberta before flying east to Quebec.

On Friday, Trudeau will campaign in an NDP-held riding in Trois-Rivières, then his home riding of Papineau, and host a rally in Montreal. The election is Oct. 21.

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