That Pointy-Sharp-end Stick

"We will do this project eventually for the benefit of both countries. As I said, it is just politics, and ultimately, over time, bad politics make bad policy, and I believe that in strong, advanced countries and economies like ours, bad policies ultimately get reversed."
"The fact of the matter is that, as the (U.S.) State Department itself says, the environmental impacts of the Keystone pipeline are negligible. In fact, it will displace a crude that in many cases comes from not just higher-emitting sources of oil, but frankly from places where the environmental standards of production are very poor."
"Here's our most critical and valuable set of exports and there has been no attempt at diversification at all. So I think this has high-lighted for all of us ... why for all kinds of reasons, including really solid economic reasons, we need to diversify our energy export markets. The demand in the world for these products is so overwhelming that I remain confident that a number of these projects will proceed."
"I don't think it will ever be our plan to lock out the United States. If I were an American, the last thing I would want to see is Canada selling its oil anywhere else."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper says the Keystone debate has made it clear why Canada must diversify its energy export markets. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

American environmental groups, aided by Canadian groups focused on environmental issues have made the Keystone oil pipeline their cause celebre, their issue of primary and fundamental importance in charging forward with their campaign to dun the Alberta oilsands project declaring it environmentally unsustainable. Where, in fact, the carbon emissions revolving around the oilsands cannot be compared to the far greater emissions resulting from coal extraction and burning.

No similar campaigns appear to be in the offing underlining the environmental damage done by coal whose effect is far greater than that of the Alberta oilsands. But the Transcanada Keystone XL pipeline is the singular issue that has been set into the stone of environmental condemnation, and Canada the site of irresponsible government intention to threaten nature's balance through Canada's insistence on resource extraction and trade.

The oilsands do present to Canada its largest single source of greenhouse gases. But it represents a resource that will be extracted and it will be exploited because it makes financial sense to do so to continue growing the Canadian economy. Economic, environmental and energy security data all support the approval of the 1,900 kilometre cross-border pipeline. But the issue has been left dangling in indecision by Barack Obama.

Indecision seems to mark this president's second-term administration. Proposals to ship Alberta oil through western and eastern pipelines will assuredly proceed. Making home-resourced energy products available to Canadians, and enabling their shipment further abroad to a world hungry for their use to advance their own economic futures.

The U.S.executive administration stands alone on the issue of indecision regarding the go-ahead on this project. Keystone XL enjoys wide support among both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Not to mention state governments as well. It has already passed a number of environmental assessments. Nothing will appease the ravening hordes of environmentalists who grip tight their denials of this project to proceed.

The reality is that Canada is the largest supplier of energy, oil and gas, to the United States to fuel the immense, consuming maw of its production engine. The trade and inter-related production programs of both countries support each other's economies, creating employment in both countries. Geographic neighbours, we also share a system of values to a high degree, and a cultural environment largely reflective of one another's.

But business being what it is, and the necessity to continue to move forward on this file, vital to the Canadian economy, there will be other world powers eager to access and make use of Canada's huge store of natural resources.