Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says he is seeking clarification from the U.S. ambassador over comments from the White House that appeared to link approval of the Keystone XL pipeline with Canadian environmental policy reforms.

Wall said he sent a letter to U.S. Ambassador David Jacobson seeking clarification late this week. His letter was sent just days after U.S. President Barack Obama鈥檚 State of the Union speech. In Tuesday night鈥檚 speech, Obama said he would take aggressive action on climate change.
Jacobson later told The Canadian Press that Obama鈥檚 message was meant for Canada as much as it was for Congress.

Wall tells CTV鈥檚 Question Period that such an expectation could be viewed as U.S. interference in Canadian politics. 

鈥淟ately we鈥檝e been very concerned by the notional linkage between Keystone approval and some sort of change in Canadian domestic policy that would be preferred by the U.S. administration,鈥� Wall tells CTV QP鈥檚 Kevin Newman.

There have been 鈥渟ome challenges for some time,鈥� on the public relations front for Canada鈥檚 energy industry, Wall said, including views expressed from U.S. environmental groups that paint Canadian oil sands in a bad light.

He acknowledged that Canada needs to do a better job of getting its message out, but said the country is 鈥渄oing more than having a discussion鈥� about new regulations in the oil industry.

鈥淣ow B.C. has a price tax, we have our greenhouse gas emissions legislation, we will develop our own fund and levy for those who are emitting beyond limits,鈥� Wall said.

He added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not Canada that needs to catch up to the United States in this regard. It鈥檚 the other way around.鈥�

The linkage unfairly singles out Canada, Wall said.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e exporting oil from countries like Saudi Arabia that don鈥檛 grant full rights to women. They鈥檙e importing oil from Nigeria, the carbon footprint of which is very high when you account for the tanker traffic,鈥� Wall said.

鈥淭here doesn鈥檛 seem to be any protests about that.鈥�

The missive to Jacobson is the second letter Wall has sent to U.S. officials in recent months. He said Sunday he has not received a response yet to a letter he sent Obama urging the president鈥檚 approval of Keystone. Ten U.S. governors signed the letter.

Wall spoke as thousands were expected to attend a climate rally at The National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Sunday. The demonstration, led by 350.org, The Sierra Club and the Hip-Hop Caucus, is being held to urge Obama to reject the Keystone pipeline.

For the full interview with Wall, and to find out what he has to say about Senate reform, tune in to at 11 a.m. (12 p.m. in Atlantic Canada).  Also on today鈥檚 show: Mark Carney鈥檚 鈥榚xit interview.鈥�