Keystone delays hurting Canada-U.S. relations: Republican senator

January 18:

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., center, expresses his frustration following the Senate rejected approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, as he is joined by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., right, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. (AP / J. Scott Applewhite)

President Barack Obama's apparent unwillingness to expedite approval of TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline has hurt U.S.-Canada relations, says the Republican senator who tabled the latest Senate bill approving the project.

In an interview on CTV's Question Period, U.S. Senator John Hoeven said he hopes Prime Minister Stephen Harper will continue to pressure Obama to approve the $8 billion project. 

"I hope that he (Harper) is pushing back and helping our efforts to get the pipeline approved," said Hoeven, who represents North Dakota

“The United States should be working with Canada on North American energy security, not having our president block this very important energy infrastructure project." 

The 1,900-kilometre pipeline would carry crude oil and bitumen from Alberta's oil sands through the U.S. to Nebraska, where it would connect with existing pipelines to Texas refineries.

Earlier this month, Hoeven and his Republican colleague Senator Joe Manchin introduced the most recent Keystone bill in the Senate, after Republicans took control of Congress following the midterm elections. 

Hoeven told CTV's Robert Fife that he expects the Senate will consider amendments next week, ahead of a final vote the week after that. 

So far, Hoeven said 63 senators have expressed support for the bill. But that's not enough to overcome a presidential veto, which Obama has said he would not be afraid to exercise. 

"The only question is whether we can override a veto. If the president vetoes, we'd need four more votes – we'd need 67 votes. If we can't override a veto directly, we would bring the bill back and attach it other to must-pass legislation - perhaps another energy bill or maybe an appropriations measure," said Hoeven.

Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford was in Washington and Houston last week promoting 

Keystone. Hoeven encouraged Canadian ministers, Canada’s envoy to the U.S., and the prime minister to keep pressing Obama, especially on the "good environmental steps that are being taken in Alberta to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

In the case that Keystone hits more roadblocks, Hoeven said he thinks Canada would be "entitled to move forward with any other type of challenge." Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has suggested that Canada could have grounds to challenge a presidential rejection of Keystone under the North American Free Trade Agreement, which calls for unfettered U.S. access to Canada's energy supply in exchange for Canadian access to the U.S market. 

Despite talk of a legal challenge, Hoeven said he is hopeful Congress will approve Keystone before the end of Obama's term in 2017. 

"I believe that we'll get this and I hope we get it before the president leaves office. But I believe we'll get it."

Source:   www.ctvnews.ca/politics/keystone-delays-hurting-canada-u-s-relations-republican-senator-1.2194286#fmc=no