The pipeline that could complicate ‘reset’ of US-Canada relations

Canada is pushing to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline, but US President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to nix the project. “What we have is a US government that’s sort of poised to do all sorts of big things on climate, including cancelling Keystone – and their biggest obstacle may prove to be the government of Canada and Alberta,” said Cameron Fenton, Canada team leader at environmental advocacy group 350.org. “We thank US President Donald Trump and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney as well as many government officials across North America for their advocacy without which, individually and collectively, this project could not have advanced,” TC Energy President Russ Girling said in a statement at the time. ‘Top of the agenda’ The Canadian government firmly backs the pipeline, however, and Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said last week that convincing Biden of the project’s importance is at the “top of the agenda”. Policy differences The brewing fight over Keystone XL highlights that though ties between the two countries will likely improve with Biden in the White House, “Canada will not be given a free pass”, said Donald Abelson, a professor at St Francis Xavier University and an expert on US-Canada relations.