Premier Kenney says government will use all legal avenues if Biden blocks Keystone XL

After reports that U.S. President-elect Joe Biden will cancel the construction permit for Keystone XL Pipeline in his first day in office, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has responded on Sunday evening, threatening even legal action.

“I am deeply concerned by reports that the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden may repeal the Presidential permit for the Keystone XL border crossing next week,” said Kenney in a written statement.

“Doing so would kill jobs on both sides of the border, weaken the critically important Canada-U.S. relationship, and undermine U.S. national security by making the United States more dependent on OPEC oil imports in the future.”

The Canadian Press is reporting that a to-do list during the presidential transition include rescinding the construction permit signed by President Donald Trump.

The provincial government invested $1.5 billion in the spring of 2020 in equity on the expansion project to begin work on the northern side of the border followed by a $6 billion loan guarantee in 2021.

Reports indicate that roughly 200 kilometres of pipe have already been installed, including over the Canada-U.S. border, and construction has begun on pump stations in Alberta and several U.S. states.

The pipeline will carry 830,000 barrels per day of crude from western Canadian oil fields to Gulf Coast refineries in the U.S.

“In 2019, the United States imported 9.14 million barrels per day of petroleum, 3.7 million of which came from Canada. The rest comes from countries like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, none of whom share the commitment of Canada and the United States to environmental stewardship, combatting climate change, or North American energy security,” said Kenney.

“We renew our call on the incoming administration to show respect for Canada as the United States’ most important trading partner and strategic ally by keeping that commitment to engage, and to allow Canada to make the case for strengthening cooperation on energy, the environment, and the economy through this project.

“Should the incoming U.S. Administration abrogate the Keystone-XL permit, Alberta will work with TC Energy to use all legal avenues available to protect its interest in the project.”