Premiers tell Trudeau they ‘want to go to war’ with U.S. over Keystone XL: sources

President Joe Biden’s decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline project — including heated calls for punishment that could fracture ties between the two allies.

During the discussion, aides said Ontario Premier Doug Ford cast his lot in with Alberta’s Jason Kenney and Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe, and warned the prime minister he should stand up to “a bully” like Biden on Keystone.

The characterization surprised some of the other premiers on the call, aides said, given the behaviour of Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump.

Ford, along with premiers of other non-oil producing provinces, fear that if Biden can cancel Keystone XL, he’ll also bring in “Buy America” policies to help the American economy recover from the pandemic.

Trudeau told the premiers he will plead the case for the Keystone XL pipeline when he speaks to Biden by phone Friday.

Biden’s revoking of the Keystone XL permit, one of several executive orders signed within hours of his inauguration, drew sharp condemnation from the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan, whose energy sectors were depending on the US$8 billion project.

Trudeau said in a statement Wednesday that Canada is “disappointed but acknowledge(s) the President’s decision to fulfill his election campaign promise on Keystone XL.”.

A readout of the call from the prime minister’s office did not mention the premiers’ comments, but said Trudeau “reiterated his disappointment with the decision on Keystone XL, and emphasized that the federal government has engaged with the new administration in support of the project