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Justin Trudeau’s pledges of help were met with guarded optimism in the heart of the oilpatch Thursday, even as the prime minister made no concrete promises around pipeline proposals.

As Trudeau and Premier Rachel Notley hosted a roundtable meeting in his first visit to Calgary since becoming prime minister, he told a group of top energy executives the government wanted to hear ways Ottawa “can be a better partner in helping you through this difficult time.”

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When he spoke to reporters later after touring the downtown YWCA, Trudeau said he believes the battered energy sector is open to a different approach from the federal government.

“There is a sense of worry, yes. But also a sense of opportunity, that this is a time where we need to work together intelligently to prepare, not just for the difficult months to come, but for the opportunities in years to come,” said Trudeau.

“Natural resources will always be a core part of Canada’s economy. We have great natural resources the world wants and we need to make sure … we’re developing them in a responsible and sustainable way.”