Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday expressed his “disappointment” with President Biden’s executive order to terminate permits for the Keystone XL pipeline, in a reading of the president’s first official call with a foreign leader.
Why it’s important: The Prime Minister has long supported the pipeline for crude oil transportation from Alberta to Nebraska. Biden, however, campaigned for the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline.
What it says: At a press conference earlier Friday, Trudeau said, “We have so much alignment, not just me and President Biden, but Canadians and President Biden.” He added, “I am very eager to work with President Biden,” for the New York Times.
- In the summons, however, Trudeau “raised Canada’s disappointment with the U.S. decision on the Keystone XL pipeline,” according to the reading.
- “The Prime Minister stressed the important economic and energy security benefits of our bilateral energy relationship, as well as its support for energy workers.”
The big picture: The pipeline project was originally priced at $ 8 billion and was expected to transport approximately 830,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Canada via Nebraska, according to the Washington Post.
- Although President Obama rejected the pipeline, President Trump gave the green light once in office.
- Demands halted the construction of the project throughout the Trump administration.
- Two Native American communities sued the government for the pipeline last year, accusing the government of not consulting the tribes on the path proposed by the pipeline, which crosses tribal lands.
- Its revocation of the permit is one of several “critical first steps to address the climate crisis, create good union jobs and advance environmental justice, while reversing the harmful policies of the previous administration,” according to the Biden administration .
In their Friday call, the two leaders discussed collaboration on COVID vaccines and the flow of critical medical supplies, efforts to work with indigenous peoples, and plans to address climate change through cross-border transmission of clean electricity and net emissions from scratch.
- “Both leaders have turned the fight against climate change, the defense of human rights and the strengthening of international institutions into their platforms,” the Times writes.
- “Leaders reiterated their firm commitment to multilateral institutions and the alliance,” according to the reading.
Flashback: In 2017, Trudeau promoted the Keystone XL pipeline, saying, “No country would find 173 billion barrels of oil on earth and just leave them there. The resource will be developed. Our job is to ensure that it is done responsibly, safely. and in a sustainable way “.
In depth: Biden talks about the weather in calls with foreign leaders