Anti-pipeline crowds jeered Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Vancouver Thursday and he could face a similar scene in Fort McMurray Friday, albeit for the completely opposite reason.
Trudeau is set to tour a new Suncor oilsands facility.
His visit comes after hundreds of protesters gathered outside of a Liberal Party fundraiser in Vancouver, voicing their displeasure with the government’s approval of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
“Most of the world is moving towards renewables and cleaner energy and we’re just going backwards here,” one protestor told 660 NEWS’ sister station NEWS 1130.
“Every moment that we can come out and show Trudeau that we really don’t want this pipeline built, he really needs to see that,” said another.
One even bought a ticket, jumping out of his seat part way through the evening.
“Pipelines are not happening, the youth will stand up and stop you,” he yelled at Trudeau, who responded with a quip of his own.
“Thank you for your generous contribution tonight to the Liberal Party of Canada,” he said. “Can we give a round of applause to this young man?”
Trudeau said the government must balance economic and environmental needs.
“If you were to stick around you could hear me talk about how the environment and the economy go together, talk about how we know that building a strong future requires a broad range of voices,” he told the protestor, who continued to shout as he left. “Thank you for sharing your words, it’s a shame you’re not sticking around to hear the rest of what I have to say but politics is about a two way conversation.”
After touring the new facility in Fort McMurray, the PM will participate in a roundtable with energy sector leaders.
He caps off the day with a meeting with leaders from local First Nations and Metis communities.
