Canadian Prime Minister will not accept US rejection of Keystone XL

Earlier last week, Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper sharpened his pitch for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline decision. Speaking at the Canadian American Business Council Event, New York, Harper expressed optimism about the project’s chances, but also said he would not consider a no from the State Department.

Though the US administration is reviewing whether to grant a cross-border permit for TransCanada Corp.’s proposed pipeline, Harper made clear the only acceptable outcome for Canada. "My view is that you don't take no for an answer…we haven't had that. If we were to get that, that won't be final. This won't be final until it's approved and we will keep pushing forward."

Harper’s argument for approval

Harper’s remarks are some of his strongest to date. The Prime Minister has been pushing the Obama administration to approve the Keystone project, insisting that it will create 40 000 jobs on both sides of the border. “The logic behind this project is simply overwhelming," Harper said.

In addition to the creation of jobs, Harper insists the pipeline will be a step towards North American energy independence. He said that the pipeline would reduce dependence on imports from “politically unstable places, places that are often in political conflict with the US.”

In an attempt to win approval of the pipeline, Harper has also offered to participate in joint efforts with the US to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Harper allegedly sent a letter in late August to Obama, proposing “joint action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the oil and gas sector”, CBC news reported earlier this month.

The pipeline is critical to Canada, which needs infrastructure in place to export its growing oil sands production. The northern Alberta region has the world's third largest oil reserves, with 170 billion barrels of proven reserves.

Initial rejection

The project is now in its sixth year of US review. In January 2012, Obama initially rejected the conduit, citing concerns with its path through ecologically sensitive lands in Nebraska.

TransCanada Corp. reacted to this rejection by reapplying with a new Nebraska route. This split the project in two, proceeding with the southern portion that does not require a permit.

Edited from various sources by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

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