Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday expressed his “disappointment” with President Biden’s executive order to terminate licenses for the Keystone XL pipeline, in a reading of the president’s first official link with a foreign leader.
Why it matters: The prime minister has long supported the pipeline to transport crude oil from Alberta to Nebraska. Biden, however, campaigned for the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline.
What is he saying: At a press conference on Friday, Trudeau said, “We have a lot of alignment – not just me and President Biden, but the Canadians and President Biden.” He added, “I am very much looking forward to working with President Biden,” by The New York Times.
- In the call, however, Trudeau “increased Canada’s disappointment with the United States’ decision on the Keystone XL pipeline,” according to the reading.
- “The Prime Minister highlighted the important economic and energy security benefits of our bilateral energy relationship, as well as his support for workers in the energy sector.”
The big picture: The pipeline project originally was priced at $ 8 billion and was expected to transport about 830,000 barrels of crude oil daily from Canada to Nebraska, according to The Washington Post.
- Although President Obama rejected the pipeline, President Trump gave the go-ahead when he took office.
- Lawsuits delayed construction of the project during the Trump administration.
- Two Native American communities sued the government over the pipeline last year, accusing the government of not consulting the tribes on the proposed route for the pipeline, which crosses tribal lands.
- Revocation of the license is one of several “essential first steps to address the climate crisis, create good union jobs and promote environmental justice, while reversing the previous government’s harmful policies,” according to the Biden government.
In their Friday conference call, the two leaders discussed collaboration on COVID vaccines and the flow of essential medical supplies, efforts to work with indigenous peoples and plans to tackle climate change through the transmission of clean cross-border electricity and zero net emissions.
- “Both leaders have made combating climate change, defending human rights and strengthening international institutions a central point of their platforms,” writes the Times.
- “The leaders reiterated their firm commitment to multilateral institutions and the alliance,” according to the reading.
Flashback: In 2017, Trudeau praised the Keystone XL pipeline, saying: “No country would find 173 billion barrels of oil in the ground and just leave it there. The resource will be developed. Our job is to ensure that this is done responsibly, safely and in a manner sustainable. ”
Go deeper: Biden speaks climate in links with foreign leaders