Can Biden & Trudeau Go Green Together?

                                                  Keystone XL Pipeline Protesters

Most Canadians are feeling a sense of relief and even euphoria as we wake up to the first full day of Joe Biden's presidency.. He is not a psychopath, which is a big plus, and he actually figures that being the leader of the United States is about "we", as in "we the people", rather than a narcissistic "me." 

I don't want to rain on the parade-less inauguration, but President Biden's administration may not be liked by a fair number of Canadians this morning. One of his first acts was an executive order cancelling approval of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline which would have carried Canadian heavy crude oil to US refineries. This decision will have significant repercussions in this country in a time when the economy is struggling and oil-patch jobs have disappeared. 

This pipeline was quashed before, during the Obama administration, then given permission again during Trump's term. Both the Federal and Alberta governments have invested heavily in KXL.  

                                                 Keystone Protest in Washington DC

There have been ongoing protests against the pipeline,and the consistently peaceful participants have often been treated far more harshly than the domestic terrorists who recently attempted am armed  coup in Washington DC. 

Indigenous protesters have opposed Keystone for a number of reasons, including their conviction that portions of the route cross sacred ground. Others have protested in solidarity, and for environmental reasons related to Creation Care. A decade ago  more than  60 religious leaders—rabbis, Buddhist monks, Catholic priests, and members of green Muslim and Evangelical environmental groups -- risked arrest at demonstrations against Keystone XL. Influential faith leaders such as the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu called on then  president Obama to say no to the pipeline and build a legacy of  " energy that sustains the lives and livelihoods of future generations." 

The word is that tomorrow Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden will have their first conversation. The Liberal government has already applauded the decision of the Biden administration to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, We'll see if the dialogue about pipelines can remain respectful in the days ahead. Prayers are definitely in order.