Alberta premier to skip first ministers meeting

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach said Monday he will not be attending next week's first ministers meeting on the impact of the world financial crisis because it conflicts with a trade mission he's been planning for months.

The premier leaves Friday for Europe on a 10-day trip to sell investors on the Alberta oilsands.

"It's paramount for Alberta and for Canada that we continue to speak to potential investors in the oilsands in other countries," Stelmach said. "We are the engine of the Canadian economy, and we have to … reassure investors in Germany, the Netherlands and in England that we are a good place to invest."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the meeting of federal, territorial and provincial leaders for Nov. 10.

Stelmach said he tried to arrange for a conference call from London on Monday so that he could take part, but federal organizers rejected that plan. An official in the premier's office said another member of cabinet will take Stelmach's place at the meeting in Ottawa.

Stelmach will return from his trade mission on Nov. 16.

In recent weeks, a number of energy companies have announced they are postponing or scaling back oilsands projects in the wake of the current global economic situation.