Kellyanne Conway, who was U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's campaign manager, is scheduled to visit Calgary and Fort McMurray, Alta., in early January. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

The woman who managed Donald Trump's successful U.S. presidential campaign is coming to Alberta to tour the oilsands and speak to Calgary business leaders just days before his inauguration.

Kellyanne Conway will visit Fort McMurray on an oilsands tour and then speak at a fundraising dinner in Calgary for the Alberta Prosperity Fund, a conservative advocacy group.

"Ms. Conway is a very influential member of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's transition team and someone that I personally admire as a woman in politics," Heather Forsyth of the Alberta Prosperity Fund said in a release.

"Her visit to Alberta at this time should send a strong signal to Canadians on the importance of this province to the United States," says the release, noting that Conway is president and CEO of the polling company inc./WomenTrend,

Trump's win earlier this month has renewed hope among some in the oilpatch that the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, rejected by the Obama administration, will be approved after all.

Trump has said he is in favour of the 1,900-kilometre pipeline, and invited TransCanada to reapply for approval as part of his platform.

Conway was invited to make the visit and will be paid an undisclosed sum for her speech.

Conway's visit "should stand as a call to action for all Alberta industry," said Alberta Prosperity Fund president Barry McNamar in a release.

"I hope that Ms. Conway receives an enthusiastic welcome here in Alberta and can return to the U.S. with an informed attitude towards Canadian export products."

The Alberta Prosperity Fund said in July that it would throw its support behind Jason Kenney for the leadership of the PC Party, prior to his official entry into the race. 

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