EDMONTON — Federal New Democrats hoping to push their party away from Alberta’s oilsands awoke to headlines vowing Premier Rachel Notley won’t “let up” on promoting new pipeline projects.

On the eve of the federal NDP convention in Edmonton, Notley made a televised address re-affirming her position on finding new markets for Alberta crude.

“We can’t continue to support Canada’s economy unless Canada supports us,” Notley said. “That means one thing: building a modern and carefully regulated pipeline to tidewater.”

“We must get to ‘yes’ on a pipeline.”

The statement was a stark contrast with federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair’s openness to limiting oilsands development if his members direct him to.

In an interview with the CBC this week, Mulcair was asked if he would leave oil in the ground in relation to the manifesto’s energy recommendations. He responded that he would “do everything” to implement the manifesto’s policies, if his members give him that mandate.

The manifesto, which has become a flashpoint at the Edmonton convention, advocates a number of radical steps to combat climate change, including dramatically limiting oil production in Alberta.

“If the party decides that’s the way, as the leader of the party, I’ll do everything I can to make that a reality, but Canadians have been told too many things that haven’t panned out for the last 20 years,” Mulcair told CBC host Peter Mansbridge in an interview this week.

Mulcair is fighting to keep his job in Edmonton after last October’s devastating election loss. The party’s post-election report, which will be debated Friday night, partially blamed the disappointing results on an overly-cautious national campaign and a failure to communicate progressive platform commitments.

Notley is facing troubles of her own. A February poll conducted for Postmedia had the NDP government in third place, trailing the right-wing Progressive Conservatives and the even further right wing Wildrose Party.

And Notley’s government is gearing up to release their 2016 budget next week, with the Alberta’s economy still reeling from the global oil crash.

Notley is scheduled to speak to the federal convention on Saturday, while Mulcair will address delegates on Sunday, immediately before they vote on whether or not to hold a leadership review.

Editor’s note: This article has been amended to reflect the wording of the CBC interview.

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