Pipe Wars Part I: Keystone XL and Northern Gateway Keep Oil Sands a Hot Topic in Canada

The Canadian oil sands are attracting two controversies as the appetite for more oil drives expansion plans south and north of the border. The now infamous Keystone XL pipeline project by TransCanada Corporation (TransCanada) is back in the news as the company plans to file a Presidential Permit application in the near future for a cross-border pipeline, with an alternative route through Nebraska. Enbridge Inc. (Enbridge) is also contending with additional media exposure regarding the company's plan to build its Northern Gateway Pipelines - a project that will transport petroleum from the oil sands to Kitimat's harbour for markets in Asia and California.

Two big projects, one contentious industry and plenty of confusion; it seems understanding the pros and cons for each project is in order. For Canadians, picking a side will only grow in importance; like the changing face of our military, the oil sands are becoming to be about a new Canadian national identity. Similar to those in the United States, Canadian opinions on the oil sands are split between support for economic growth, especially in the west, versus environmental degradation and reputational damage.

The Pipeline Projects: What's at stake for Canada and the U.S.?

To build...?
TransCanada and supporters have been positioning the project as a large job creator for Canadian and U.S. jobs.

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Meirav Even-Har is a Justmeans staff blogger. She reports on Canadian CSR issues. Meirav is an independent sustainability consultant and writer working in Toronto, Canada.