Obama’s decision on Keystone XL opens door for Canada

OTTAWA – “U.S. President Barack Obama’s reported decision to deny a
permit for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline is the right
decision for Canada,” says Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union
of Canada President Dave Coles.

“This is an opportunity for stakeholders – including the oil industry,
governments, environmentalists, First Nations groups and labour unions
-- to come together and create a sustainable energy policy.”

“We need a policy based on economic stability, job creation,
environmental sustainability, and energy security for Canada.

“Hopefully Prime Minister Harper will take a page from President Obama’s
book, put the name-calling behind us, and move forward.”

CEP is Canada’s largest energy workers’ union and a long-time opponent
of the pipeline construction project, appearing before the National
Energy Board, on Parliament Hill and at rallies in Canada and the U.S.
CEP opposed the Keystone XL pipeline project due to the potential loss
of tens of thousands of jobs in the Canadian oil upgrading and refining
sector that either exist now, or that would have been created by
projects that are likely to be cancelled as a result of the dramatic
expansion of oil export pipeline capacity to upgraders and refineries in
the U.S.

The 135,000-member CEP is Canada’s largest union of energy workers, with
about 35,000 members who work in the oil, gas and petro-chemical
industries.