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Politics and pancakes: Kenney welcomes fellow premiers at annual breakfast

CALGARY – Like any pancake breakfast, thousands stood in line a long time for free flapjacks but there was certainly an underlying political tone at the Premier’s Stampede Breakfast.

Premier Jason Kenney is meeting with Ontario’s Doug Ford, Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe, New Brunswick’s Blaine Higgs and Bob McLeod of the Northwest Territories ahead of this week’s Council of the Federation meeting in Saskatoon.

“I will be welcoming premiers who represent the majority of the Canadian population and provinces who stand with Alberta on responsible resource development, for pipelines and against the carbon tax,” said Kenney.

The visiting premiers were presented with white cowboy hats, a Calgary honour that has been bestowed on royals and other dignitaries, as well as western belt buckles.

Each premier had a turn at flipping and serving pancakes for a large, mostly friendly crowd.

Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Doug Schweitzer was also on hand at the breakfast. He pointed out how encouraging it was for other premiers to be at the event.

“It’s critical that we have a nation here that Confederation works. The Premier has been working hard, building relationships across the province and coast to coast and we’ve got to make sure we keep building on that and send a message to Ottawa that we need change.”

“Talking to other Calgarians that are so pleased that four premiers are in attendance and are in the city,” said MLA Drew Barnes who want the premiers to send a strong message to the federal government.

A handful of people also showed up to voice their displeasure of a United Conservative education bill that they say puts gay and transgender students at risk.

Two women wearing T-shirts reading “outing kids is not in my job description” tried having their pictures taken with Kenney.

The western premiers met late last month in Edmonton, where British Columbia Premier John Horgan and Kenney agreed to continue to disagree on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project that would carry Alberta oil to the West Coast.

READ MORE: No pipeline fireworks as Western premiers finish meetings in Edmonton

A parade of politicians, which included federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer on Saturday, make a pilgrimage to Calgary every year during the city’s famous 10-day celebration of cowboy culture.

-With files from The Canadian Press

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