Stand Up For Keystone XL

Update:

Joe Biden formally revoked Keystone XL's permit this afternoon.

Justin Trudeau said only: "We are disappointed but acknowledge the President's decision to fulfil his election campaign promise on Keystone XL. I look forward to working with President Biden to reduce pollution, combat climate change, fight COVID-19, create middle class jobs, and build back better by supporting a sustainable economic recovery for everyone."

Meanwhile, an anonymous government source said: "At least now the matter is settled and won’t be souring bilateral relations for months to come. Canada hasn't had to expend any serious political capital with the Biden administration on the pipeline and can now focus on the many other areas where Trudeau feels the two nations should cooperate."

This is simply not good enough.

The Trudeau government moved heaven and earth to fight the previous US administration's plans to impose tariffs on steel and other Central Canadian industries.

But when the new US administration threatens the oil and gas industry, an industry that is much larger than the steel, or automotive, or aeronautical industries, the Liberal government rolls over and gives up, because that industry happens to be in Western Canada, not in Central Canada.

Stand Up For Keystone XL:

The Keystone XL pipeline would be the most environmentally and socially friendly pipeline ever constructed.

TC Energy, the builders of the pipeline, have made huge strides towards improving environmental outcomes, planned to power the pipeline's pumps with solar power, agreed to ownership stakes with five First Nations along the route, made deals with various American unions, and more.

In short, TC Energy did everything the radical activists demanded they do, and it still wasn't enough.

The pipeline would also create thousands of high-paying private-sector union jobs in both Canada and the US, help replace dirty and ethically-questionable oil from the Middle East with Canadian oil which is subject to some of the highest regulatory standards in the world, and greatly reduce the amount of oil being transported by rail, improving transportation safety.

Despite all that, because this one pipeline crosses the US-Canada border, President Joe Biden will be able to cancel the pipeline and is reportedly planning to do just that on his first day in the White House.

This poses massive problems for Canada.

First, cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline would be a devastating blow to Alberta.

After the federal government killed off the Energy East and Northern Gateway pipelines, the completion of the Keystone XL pipeline is one of the few hopes remaining for an industry that has already taken repeated blows from general global economic conditions, the pandemic, poor legislation from Ottawa, and more.

Western Canada is in the middle of an economic crisis that is already straining national unity and, without swift action, things will only deteriorate further.

The Keystone XL pipeline, however, is not just an issue for Alberta.

Even in the depths of a now-five-year recession, Alberta continues to contribute a net $20 billion to the rest of Canada.

That's an extra $20 billion paid by Albertans to the federal government over and above the payments Alberta receives from the federal government.

That $20 billion represents almost $4,000 per Albertan being paid to the rest of Canada, which can only be afforded because of Alberta's oil and gas industry.

But, without the infrastructure required to sustain the oil and gas industry, those payments will dry up, leaving the whole of Canada worse off, or Albertans wondering why making those payments to Ottawa in the first place, rather than keeping them in Alberta.

With the Keystone XL pipeline crossing the US-Canada border, it's absolutely vital that the federal government - who are responsible for all international trade matters - immediately stand up to Joe Biden and convince him that the US-Canada relationship is more important than appeasing environmental radicals.

In fact, Joe Biden knows this already, as pipelines with more than 10x the total capacity of the Keystone XL pipeline were constructed in the US while he was Vice President.

But, until now, the Canadian government has expressed only weak and generalized support for the project and failed to take any concrete action to secure its construction, making it politically easier for Biden to say no.

That must end now, and nothing short of a full-court-press is required to ensure that this project that is vital for Canada's interests goes ahead.

If this doesn't happen, Canada's economic interests, Alberta's future, and national unity may be damaged beyond repair.

Please sign the petition telling Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government in Ottawa that they must immediately stand up to Joe Biden and ensure that the Keystone XL project is completed.