Obama Rejects Harper Pressure To Speed Up Keystone Announcement At 1-Day Summit

[hatrack]

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was again rebuffed in his bid to press U.S. President Barack Obama to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline when he raised the issue during a North American leaders’ summit in Toluca, Mexico.

Mr. Harper discussed the matter with his U.S. counterpart during a one-on-one conversation on Wednesday afternoon before a formal summit with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Canadian officials have expressed frustration with Mr. Obama’s delays on the matter and are concerned that a final decision could come too late for this year’s construction season.

Mr. Obama said he has no plans to hasten the process for making a decision. “Keystone will proceed along the path that’s already been set for it,” he said during a press conference Wednesday evening.

The proposed TransCanada Corp. pipeline, which would carry Alberta crude to the Gulf Coast, has become a source of tension for the two leaders. On Wednesday, Mr. Harper’s cause was dealt another setback when a Nebraska court ruled that the governor’s decision to allow the pipeline to pass through the state was unconstitutional.

EDIT

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-presses-obama-on-keystone/article16991253/

[KeepItReal]

1. Shouldn't Harper be more worried about Russia's Arctic Circle ambitions?

Instead of some private company's business plan?

[madrchsod]

2. remember ...always follow the money

once he retires from pubic office do you really think he`s going to retire and while away his time ?

[MBS]

3. here's the article on the welcome Nebraska court decision

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nebraska-judge-strikes-down-legislatures-move-allowing-keystone-xl-route/2014/02/19/5601e916-99a7-11e3-b88d-f36c07223d88_story.html

opening excerpts:

A Nebraska judge Wednesday struck down a state law that allowed Gov. Dave Heineman to approve the route of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, a decision that could significantly delay the $5.3 billion project.

Lancaster County District Judge Stephanie F. Stacy said the 2012 law violated the state constitution. She permanently blocked Heineman (R) and other defendants “from taking any action on the governor’s January 22, 2013 approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline route,” such as allowing land to be acquired by eminent domain for the project.

more at the link.