Alberta premier warns new energy project bill could worsen oil sector slump

Alberta premier Rachel Notley warned Canadian senators in Ottawa on Thursday that proposed federal legislation addressing major energy project assessments, including crude oil pipelines, risks swapping "one broken system for another".

Notley appeared before a Senate committee considering Bill C-69, a controversial piece of legislation aimed at streamlining the new project approval process, but which critics say will in fact deter investment in Canada's energy sector.

Alberta is the country's main crude-producing province but saw oil prices plummet at the end of last year because of congestion of export pipelines that prevented barrels from reaching U.S. markets.

(Reporting by Nia Williams Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)