Obama Keystone Decision Caught in Undertow of Canadian Election
Putting a decision on hold would give the U.S. and Canada a chance to reset a strained relationship; on the other hand, a decision in the midst of Canada’s election could be seen as political interference.
U.S President Barack Obama pauses while speaking about the Clean Power Plan during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Aug. 3, 2015.
Photographer: Olivier Douliery/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Canada’s election in October has become yet another event shaping the seven-year saga of the Keystone XL pipeline, one that may lead the Obama administration to delay announcing a decision to approve or reject the $8 billion project.
Putting a decision on hold would give the U.S. and Canada a chance to reset a strained relationship, said David Wilkins, a former U.S. ambassador to Canada. On the other hand, a decision in the midst of Canada’s 11-week election campaign could be seen as political interference.