MyMcMurray Portal

Three U.S. congressmen toured the oil sands yesterday.

The province says it’s part of its ongoing efforts to inform U.S. decision-makers.

Mike Deising from the International, Intergovernmental, and Aboriginal relations department says the oilsands make a big difference to the congressmen too.

“One [Joe Wilson] is from South Carolina, and the Michelin plant is from his distract – he wanted to see the big caterpillar trucks and the Michelin tires that are on them,” he said.

“And one of the others is from Illinois [John Shimkus] and has a Caterpillar distribution centre out of there.”

The third Congressmen was Bob Latta of Ohio.

Deising says there are three key messages being sent.

“Usually there’s always an interest in knowing that they’re getting oil from an ally and a friend. With the economic downturn, the economic security message also is becoming more prevalent and more important. The third aspect that we always see is the environmental side,” he said.

The congressmen toured alongside new international relations minister Cal Dallas.