OTTAWA - America’s most powerful woman said she came to Canada to “listen and learn,” but Nancy Pelosi’s office continues to fight off allegations she’s out to target Canada’s oilsands.

Pelosi, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, attended a women’s luncheon on Thursday hosted by Julie Jacobson, the wife of the U.S. ambassador to Canada. Guests at the luncheon included Canadian politicians, the prime minister's wife Laureen Harper and a trio of journalists.

According to a report in The Globe and Mail, Pelosi said she doesn’t like any “fossil,” referring to fossil fuels such as oil. Canada is the largest source of fossil fuel imports into the United States. A spokesman for Pelosi blasted back at the newspaper.

“The Speaker has stated that she is here in Ottawa to listen and learn during her various meetings with stakeholders on energy and environment,” Drew Hammill wrote in an e-mail.

“The U.S. House of Representatives has repeatedly passed legislation, including a comprehensive energy and climate bill, that would set America on a course to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and make critical investments to spur innovation and create clean energy jobs. In response to a reporter’s question yesterday, the Speaker simply reiterated that fact.”

Environmentalists also met with Pelosi on Thursday and later told reporters the meeting was positive and that Pelosi had told them getting off of oil was a moral issue.

As she entered a meeting of speakers from the G8 countries on Friday, Pelosi deflected concerns and reiterated that she was in Canada to listen and learn.