Article content

The Wildrose Party says it’s a troubling sign that the NDP energy minister’s top staffer was registered as a federal lobbyist for an organization opposed to pipeline projects proposed to ship Alberta oilsands crude.

But Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd said Thursday that her new chief of staff, Graham Mitchell, hadn’t worked against pipelines and noted she is “the one in charge” of the ministry in any case.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Wildrose charges NDP energy minister's top staffer was anti-pipeline lobbyist Back to video

According to the federal Commissioner of Lobbying’s website, Mitchell was registered on Jan. 29 as the responsible officer for the Leadnow Society, which describes itself as an “independent advocacy organization that runs campaigns on the major issues of our time.”

The numerous lobbying activities listed for the organization include asking federal Conservative MPs from British Columbia to pressure cabinet to stop Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline, and requesting the National Energy Board open its Energy East pipeline hearings to the public and take climate change science into account.