Gov. Chris Christie meets Jim Prentice in Calgary to talk energy, Keystone
New Jersey Republican considered one of his party's top prospects for White House bid
A high-profile U.S. politician visited Calgary today to talk about energy and pipelines.
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Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie met with Alberta Premier Jim Prentice before giving a speech to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
He moves on to Ottawa Friday for a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Christie's visit is expected to focus on North American energy production, including the Keystone XL pipeline, a project of which he is a strong backer.
The governor is considered one of the Republican party's top prospects to make a run for the White House in 2016.
Christie’s visit probably has to do with his possible presidential bid, said Christopher Sands, the director of Canadian studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington.
"The fact that he is thinking about Canada to me is a sign that he wants to be taken seriously and he is going to take the steps necessary to be a well-rounded candidate," Sands said.
Christie likely wants to learn more about energy infrastructure, such as the many oil and gas pipelines and electricity transmission lines that run between Canada and the U.S., he said.
This is Christie's second foreign trip in recent months.
With files from Kyle Bakx/CBC