Canada swipes at Venezuela in push for U.S. approval of Keystone

[Catherina]

Canada swipes at Venezuela in push for U.S. approval of Keystone
JEFFREY JONES

CALGARY — Reuters

Published Thursday, Apr. 18 2013,

Canada is playing up its record as a reliable oil supplier to the United States compared to politically volatile Venezuela, as it seeks to win favour in Washington for the contentious Keystone XL pipeline to Texas refineries.

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said on Thursday that the United States, already Canada’s largest oil market by far, can expect far better service than it has received from the South American OPEC member that currently feeds a large chunk of oil demand in the Gulf Coast region.

...

“That’s not a reliable partner. That’s not a stable source of oil. And that’s not how Canada will ever treat the United States.”

Despite frequent threats, Venezuela has not shut off exports to the United States, but Mr. Oliver’s remarks underline how high the stakes have become for Canada as a U.S. decision on Keystone XL looms.

....

Canada was also less than laudatory this week following the disputed election of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Ottawa congratulated Venezuelans for voting in large numbers but failed to mention that Mr. Maduro, a protégé of late president Hugo Chavez, was declared the winner.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/canada-swipes-at-venezuela-in-push-for-us-approval-of-keystone/article11378603/

[Marksman_91]

1. Weren't there scientists saying the Keystone pipeline was a bad idea for the environment?

I've always thought, instead of investing in more ways to obtain oil, why not dedicate those funds instead to developing other energy sources that are less polluting and less risky to obtain?

EDIT: Oh, right... The current Canadian government is run by conservative nutjobs...

[Bacchus4.0]

5. I think the environmental risk most cited is the potential for a spill

along the very long pipeline corridor, particulary to the aquifer. I don't believe the extraction itself is any more risky than traditional oil wells. (not that oil production is clean) Its the risk of a leak and spill.


Alternative technologies that are clean have not yet been developed up to scale that would permit them to be used as a replacement to fossil fuels at this time.

Also, look at some of the consequences of well intentioned alternatives to fossile fuels. Ethanol prices and subsidies made it more attractive to sell corn to energy producers rather than as food or feed for animals. This has greatly increased the price of food. Particularly detrimental in poor countries.

There has also been a flood of solar panel producing industries, which include government subsidies, lowering the market price but resulting in industries going out of business it is not profitable.

We're getting there but not quite yet.

[joshcryer]

6. Yep, its route is over the Ogallala Aquifer. And as Exxon showed...

...keeping oil in the pipelines can and will go wrong.



A spill over the Ogallala would be a disaster.

(Venezuela's own environmental record I will refrain from commenting on.)

[polly7]

2. I'm embarrassed by and ashamed of this.

I hope the Maduro gov't fully realizes our right-wing repukes here will do or say anything to further the interests of Big Oil. They're pathetic.

[Judi Lynn]

3. That's really low, and stupid, going for the "That bad, bad old Venezuela. Did it scare you?"

It wouldn't take any time at all to guess what the reaction would be in Canada if the US started organizing and employeeing Canadian opposition to the sitting administration which it hated for its political position, it would get a whole lot worse when the US started flying Canadian politicians, military people, opposition leaders, media people to Washington, counseling them in a run-up to an armed kidnapping of their highest official, stationed US military ships right off the coast, had the US ambassador organizing anti-andmistration activities right in the US embassy, etc.

Then, by god, we'd see how pouty and snotty Canada feels about trying to cozy up to the US for a few more coins for its own oil companies to pocket and coins with which to finance future political campaigns for loyal politicians in Canada.

Jesus H Christ on a pogo stick.

[center][/center]

[joshcryer]

4. Canada is grasping at straws. If anything they want us to refine their shit tar sands.

Just like Venezuela is highly dependent on our refining their heavy nasty crude.

If there's one thing the US is really good at it's refining shitty oil.

edit: it just dawned on me that Canada is reflecting the right wing rhetoric that Venezuela is falling into chaos which we see so much here...