Mulcair talks Keystone in Washington   Play video Keystone pipeline bills pushed by U.S. lawmakers U.S. senators introduce bill to approve Keystone XL pipeline

OTTAWA — A handful of Conservative cabinet ministers who travelled to New York and Washington to make the case for the Keystone XL pipeline this week were on damage control after NDP Leader Tom Mulcair used his own trip to America to bash the proposed project.

The Conservatives, Alberta Premier Alison Redford and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall have spent significant lobbying efforts trying to convince the U.S. administration to approve the project, which they say will bring jobs and energy security.

Mulcair told an audience in Washington the Conservatives "have to stop playing people for fools" on Canada's environmental record under their leadership, adding that under Stephen Harper, environmental laws have been gutted and Canada's overall environmental record is appalling.