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Alberta is under attack by the climate policies of the provincial NDP and the federal Liberals, Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said in a passionate speech to a crowd of carbon tax opponents Saturday.

“We used to lead the country in economic growth. Now we lead in unemployment claims,” a fired-up Jean said to a crowd of approximately 300 people gathered beneath the legislature steps.

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“They have attacked our farm sector, they have attacked our oil and gas sector, they have attacked our coal sector.

“They are attacking our way of life.”

Jean received some of his biggest cheers when he told the crowd that Alberta’s resources don’t belong to Premier Rachel Notley or Prime Minister Trudeau, but rather the people of Alberta. He said Notley has been ignoring the wishes of those rightful owners, many of whom have lost their jobs and are struggling to pay the bills amid a prolonged oil price slump.

The rally in Edmonton was one of about a dozen held in various municipalities around the province Saturday to protest the NDP’s controversial Climate Leadership Plan.