EDMONTON -- Deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk says Alberta has a strong relationship with B.C. despite tension over Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway oil pipeline.

"In general, our relations are really good," Lukaszuk said. "Are there certain files that arise from time to time where we simply choose to disagree? You bet, and that will always happen. But it doesn't cast a shadow on our overall inter-provincial relations."

BC Premier Christy Clark made similar comments in BC Thursday while seeing off members of the legal team that will cross-examine Enbridge Inc.

Team leader, former Liberal attorney general Geoff Plant, said his goal at the Northern Gateway Joint Review Panel in Edmonton is to ensure Enbridge has the financial capacity to deal with any possible oil spill. When the panel holds hearings in B.C. from October to December, he said his focus will shift to Enbridge's technical ability to respond to spills.

"We're bringing in the A-Team to make sure we're doing everything we can to get the answers British Columbians need," Clark said.

When asked by a reporter Thursday what the difference is between oil and natural gas, Clark said she's never seen ducks washed up on a shore covered in natural gas.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, who will attend the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions in China next week with Clark and Alberta Premier Alison Redford, has defended Alberta's efforts to get the pipeline through BC.

Lukaszuk said when traveling internationally, "our Alberta position is always that we travel as one."

"When we are promoting Canadian interests abroad, we leave our differences behind at home," he said. "Alberta always will be promoting our national interests, which are reflecting well on all of us individually within Canada."
--With files from Byron Chu