Alberta Party leader Stephen Mandel has unveiled a tidbit of his party’s 2019 election platform specific to Alberta’s oil sector.

Mandel wants to establish a division within the economic development and trade ministry to change the conversation around — and social acceptance of — Alberta’s energy industry “through a proactive, positive, and productive method that will move public opinion, not further isolate Albertan opportunity.”

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The division would provide data and messaging while working in conjunction with industry, the environment and energy ministries, and the premier’s office.

Kenney’s “war room”

Mandel proposed the idea in response to UCP leader Jason Kenney’s plan to establish a taxpayer-funded “war room” in the department of energy, which would respond to attacks on Alberta’s energy sector.

Kenney told the Calgary Herald if elected he will call the CEOs of major oil companies and tell them they must join in.

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Mandel slammed Kenney’s plan Monday, accusing the former MP of having “fundamental inexperience and lack of understanding as to what a CEO’s role is.”

“CEOs are in place to generate profit and value for shareholders, not to get involved in political fights that they can’t and won’t win,” Mandel said.

Industry “absolutely” has a role to play in promoting the Alberta oil sector’s environmental standards and innovation, Mandel said, but “starting fights and having a ‘war room’ is a juvenile distraction that will only serve to polarize and entrench our opponents.”

Changing the tone

In an interview, Mandel said Alberta needs to do a better job of marketing its oil sector and change the tone of the discussion to highlight the industry’s environmental strides around carbon intensity and reduction, regulations, and tailings pond innovations and cleanup.

“War rooms are about fighting and creating animosity towards groups of people. Alberta has always been about dreamers, about builders, about creators — not about people who want to destroy things,” he said.

“If we fight with the world over what we’ve done, we’re never going to win. You’ve got to talk about what we’ve done in a positive way.”

Mandel said his party’s plan would ensure Albertans, Canadians and the world are well informed of the contributions this province makes to Canada, environmental leadership, stewardship and innovation.

As for the rest of the Alberta Party platform, Mandel said a large part of it will be about business, creating jobs, innovation, fighting for more equity for Alberta and how the government will help “right the ship.”