Alberta Premier Jason Kenney urged Biden on Jan. 22 to reconsider his decision to end the Keystone oil pipeline project and criticized Biden for ignoring the interests of Canada, the United States’ closest ally, in making the decision. Alberta is Canada’s largest oil-producing province.
Biden issued an executive order on Jan. 20, the day he was sworn in, revoking the Keystone XL pipeline project approved by former President Trump.
In an interview with Fox News on 22 January, Coney said it was frustrating that Biden’s decision did not respect the views of Canada, which had also invested billions of dollars in the project.
“A lose-lose situation for both the U.S. and Canada.”
Conney said he hopes that after Biden takes office, Canada will maintain a close and strong relationship with the U.S., whose main trade is Canadian energy exports to the U.S., most notably energy sold by Alberta for the U.S.
He said, “Canada has the third largest oil reserves in the world, we send $100 billion of energy to the United States every year, and the construction of the Keystone pipeline project means that energy exports can grow significantly, safely and modernly.”
He also said that Biden’s decision to stop the project would result in the loss of thousands of jobs in both Canada and the U.S., while making the U.S. more dependent on energy from authoritarian countries such as oil exporters. He therefore believes that Biden’s decision is not in the interest of the United States.
He suggested that the Biden Administration discuss with the Canadian government how to ensure secure energy exports between the two countries and ensure the energy independence of North America, as well as security between the United States and its closest ally, Canada; and also seriously consider climate and environmental policy issues.
Canadian Prime Minister expresses disappointment
The Keystone pipeline project was proposed in 2008, but was stalled during the Obama administration.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Trudeau said he discussed the issue with Biden when he spoke with him last November and expressed his government’s disappointment that Biden had withdrawn the Keystone pipeline project, which is vital to Canada’s oil export business with the United States.
In a statement, Trudeau wrote: “Canada is the largest supplier of energy to the United States, contributing to U.S. energy security and economic competitiveness, and this project provides thousands of jobs on both sides of the border.”
The White House said Trudeau also spoke with Biden on Jan. 22, and Biden acknowledged that he was aware of Trudeau’s disappointment and reiterated his commitment to actively promote bilateral dialogue between the U.S. and Canada and to further deepen U.S.-Canada cooperation commitments.
Republicans also oppose Biden’s withdrawal of the Keystone pipeline project
Biden’s decision was also opposed by Republican members of the U.S. Congress. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Oklahoma Congressman Markwayne Mullin and South Carolina Congressman Jeff Duncan said in a joint statement released on the 20th that Biden’s decision to withdraw the Keystone pipeline project would result in thousands of U.S. workers losing their jobs and hurt U.S. allies. Biden’s decision to withdraw the Keystone pipeline will put thousands of U.S. workers out of work and undermine the trust of Canada, a U.S. ally, in the U.S. government. The decision will also hurt U.S. energy security, as the oil will be replaced from unreliable Gulf oil exporters.
Montana Sen. Steve Daines (R) also said on the 20th that he and several senators would introduce a bill to continue construction of the Keystone pipeline system. Daines wrote in a statement that the Keystone pipeline project is critical to Montana as an energy-producing state, and that the project is expected to create 7,100 jobs.
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