Keystone XL: Alberta lobbies in U.S. with New York Times ad

The Alberta government is spending big bucks to press its case for the Keystone XL pipeline, taking out a $30,000 ad in Sunday's New York Times newspaper to ensure its message gets across loud and clear.

The move comes after the influential newspaper came out against the project in an editorial last week titled, "When to Say No," in which the editorial board urged U.S. President Barack Obama to reject the pipeline.

In a separate column, prominent journalist Thomas Friedman wrote "No to Keystone. Yes to Crazy," urging opponents of the project to protest loudly and crazily to get some "really good systemic responses to climate change" because he doesn't think Obama will reject the project.

"It's important for Alberta to get the facts on the table as widely as possible," Stefan Baranski, a spokesman for Premier Alison Redford, told the Canadian Press, noting the ad was taken to counter the editorial stance of the New York Times.

"Certainly the Sunday Times is a critically important audience to speak to, and I think Alberta has a good track record, a very good story to tell, and it's important that we're out there telling that story at this very critical time."

The advertisement acknowledges environmental concerns, but links the $7-billion pipeline to core American values and economic development.

"America's desire to effectively balance strong environmental policy, clean technology development, energy security and plentiful job opportunities for the middle class and returning war veterans mirrors that of the people of Alberta," CP reported, noting the ad titled " Keystone XL: The Choice of Reason” cost $30,000.

"This is why choosing to approve Keystone XL and oil from a neighbour, ally, friend, and responsible energy developer is the choice of reason."

With an imminent decision by Obama on the Keystone XL pipeline – it is generally expected to come by summer time – proponents on both sides of the project are wasting no time keeping the pressure on. Politicians have been lobbying hard for the project, while thousands of opponents have gathered in Washington to protest against it.