Alberta’s new Energy and Minerals Minister, Brian Jean, has a personal connection to his new role due to his upbringing in Fort McMurray, the heart of the province’s energy sector. Speaking about the impact of government policies on families, Jean emphasized the importance of considering the real people affected by those decisions. As one of the first cabinet ministers to receive a mandate letter from Premier Danielle Smith, Jean’s priorities include fighting jurisdictional overreach and building relationships with federal ministers while ensuring they stay within their respective lanes. The government plans to address barriers to international markets for Alberta’s energy products and explore options like using the Port of Churchill or Kitimat. While acknowledging that there is no easy solution to the province’s challenges, Jean is dedicated to pursuing every opportunity available. He believes that the opposition against Alberta’s energy sector is diminishing, but stresses the importance of countering falsehoods with accurate information. The province intends to promote its energy industry through the Canadian Energy Centre, also known as the “Energy War Room,” and present its energy resources as the best and most ethical in the world.