International Vice-President Joe Maloney was a big hit with Danielle Smith’s audience on Global’s 770 CHQR Calgary radio station when he stood up for workers in the oil sands.

“Joe is a great spokesman,” said Smith, host of a popular daily talk show. “My audience loved him.”

Smith interviewed Maloney for 15 minutes about his Sept. 13 article in the Edmonton Journal , (also reprinted in boilermaker.ca) in which he said Canadians have no reason to feel guilty about the oil sands.

Maloney said most British Columbians were unaware that some of the oil they use in their cars comes from Russia and Saudi Arabia.

“I really don’t think that Canadians are fully informed on what’s going on here and I don’t think particularly that BC residents realize that they’re filling their gas tanks with Russian oil,” he said.

“They have no environmental rights over there, they have no human rights, they have no labour rights. And we don’t even know if some of these tankers coming in have double hulls.

“Why should we turn our back on our own oil and watch Russian oil tankers bringing oil in? I think it’s very hypocritical,” he said.

You can listen to the entire interview through this link , or by clicking the play button below.