Travel Alberta blocks anti-pipeline video on YouTube

A Los Angeles based funny man has raised the ire of Travel Alberta, the Government of Alberta's tourism agency.

Political satirist Andy Cobb has teamed up with Mike Damanskis to produce a sort of 'mockumentary' about the oil sands.

To fund their project, the comedy duo is raising money via Indiegogo.com — a popular crowdfunding website.

Here's their witty pitch that Travel Alberta has successfully forced off YouTube.

According to Desmog Canada, Travel Alberta filed an official complaint with YouTube, claiming the video was in violation of copyright law for referencing their "remember to breathe" commercial.

They probably didn't get permission from Sun News' Ezra Levant or CBC either for those clips.

Regardless, it appears the video has since been removed from YouTube.

[ Related: The anti-Keystone ad that NBC wouldn’t air sparks debate on both sides of the border ]

The duo's goal, of course, is to influence public opinion about the Keystone XL Pipeline — the proposed project that could transport up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day from northern Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico. U.S. President Barack Obama has the final say on whether the pipeline is a go; he is expected to make that decision later this year.

[ Related: Canada's U.S. ambassador refutes Obama's Keystone claims ]

Cobb, whose past satire videos have included jabs at the Republicans and big business, seems passionate about the oil sands issue.

He also has a poor impression of of Fort McMoney...er McMurray.

"Industry videos present the town as a Utopian land of opportunity, but it's still one of the most dangerous cities in Canada," he notes on the Indiegogo website.

"Twentysomethings rake in $200,000 a year or more driving trucks that are bigger than the house they grew up in. This combination of isolated workers and high salaries means that prostitution runs rampant. It is widely said that in Fort McMurray, it is easier to get cocaine than a slice of pizza.

"We get to know the area and its residents to find out who really benefits from the tar sands oil boom."

With 17 days left in their fundraising campaign, Cobb and Damanskis have raised $4,915 out of a goal of $20,000.

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