EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach has dinner plans.

But this is no typical outing. His dining companions will include Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The get-together takes place Wednesday in Ottawa, at an undisclosed location.

Stelmach says he'll use the occasion to trumpet the oilsands and Alberta's environmental record.

"Our goal there is to appeal to her sense of reason, to communicate very clearly that we continue to be focused on environmental improvement in developing the oilsands," Stelmach said.

"(We'll) talk about, of course, energy security, talk about jobs, but environment is the first and most important issue."

The dinner meeting comes as Alberta tries to shore up approval for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport crude oil from the oilsands in Alberta to the United States.

The province is also facing mounting criticism over its environmental record.

Stelmach said the meeting with Pelosi was arranged by David Jacobson, the U.S. ambassador to Canada.

Also in attendance will be Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, Quebec Premier Jean Charest, federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice and other U.S. legislators, officials said.

Stelmach said he plans to point out that proceeds from the development of the oilsands pay for health and education programs not only in Alberta, but across the country.

The premier said he'll also stress how important an energy supplier Alberta is to the United States.

"The information that we will communicate will be the same as we've done with other elected officials in the United States," Stelmach said.

In July, the premier wrote U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, defending the Keystone pipeline and Alberta's environmental record.

This summer, the government also ran an ad in the Washington Post with a similar message.

Stelmach later vowed to spend "a lot of time" in Washington, D.C. and Ottawa to convince policymakers that Alberta is an environmentally friendly province.

frank.landry@sunmedia.ca