Canadian PM says Iran threat justifies Keystone XL approval

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper became the latest stakeholder in the Keystone XL debate to cite Iran’s threats to block the Strait of Hormuz as one justification for the U.S. to approve the controversial oil pipeline.

Harper told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation yesterday he thinks it’s “pretty obvious what the right decision is, not just from an economic and environmental standpoint but also from an energy-security standpoint.”

“When you look at the Iranians threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz, I think that just illustrates how critical it is that supply for the United States be North American,” Harper said.
Calgary-based TransCanada Corp.’s pipeline would carry oil sands crude from Alberta through six states to Gulf Coast refineries in Port Arthur and Houston. The Canadian government has long encouraged the United States to approve the pipeline.

I'm thinking Canada should just build a refinery and to hell with the pipeline.

Canada has refineries

My only question, (of long standing) is why pipeline Canadian crude so far ? We have - and can expand - refinery capacity in the Dakotas ! Hence we can ship "product" from a Dakota terminus to wherever its needed ! IOW, a "non argument" IMO !

Of course the Dakotas are Republican........But that wouldn't influence the "Unbiased Obama Administration" that promised us a new era in government transparency, would it ? >Mech

Canadian PM says Iran threat justifies Keystone XL