Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

wtmusic

(39,166 posts)
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 12:25 PM Apr 2013

Canadian Official Commits Rhetorical Hara-Kiri; Admits Rail No Subsititue for Pipeline



"If you don't give us the pipeline, we'll ship just as much tar sands oil by rail" vs. "without the pipeline, we won't be able to ship nearly as much tar sands oil." In the States, we call that a "pickle".

"WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) - Using trains to move heavy crude oil out of Western Canada would be a poor alternative to the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, Canada's top energy official said on Wednesday, and a rail-only plan would likely put a dent in future oil sands development.

U.S. officials are weighing whether to approve construction of the proposed Keystone pipeline that could deliver as much as 830,000 barrels a day of mostly Canadian and some U.S. crude oil to refiners in Texas and Louisiana.

Joe Oliver, Canada's natural resources minister, said costs and logistical challenges make crude-by-rail a poor second choice for oil sands producers trying to reach the U.S. Gulf Coast."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/24/usa-keystone-rail-idUSL2N0DB23P20130424
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Canadian Official Commits Rhetorical Hara-Kiri; Admits Rail No Subsititue for Pipeline (Original Post) wtmusic Apr 2013 OP
Related: Joe Oliver is “making Canada look like a country full of jerks” says top Canadian scientist Joe Shlabotnik Apr 2013 #1
I suppose that could be considered as a good sign. wtmusic Apr 2013 #2
I'm still holding out some hope. Joe Shlabotnik Apr 2013 #3
If they think tar sand is so great razee Apr 2013 #4

Joe Shlabotnik

(5,604 posts)
1. Related: Joe Oliver is “making Canada look like a country full of jerks” says top Canadian scientist
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 05:02 PM
Apr 2013
It appears that there are 'no holds barred' in the Harper government's attempts to get U.S. approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.

On Wednesday — in the U.S. capital — Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver advanced the government's aggressive strategy when he lashed out at James Hansen, a prominent U.S. scientist who once suggested that the end of the civilization could be nigh, thanks to Alberta's 'tar sands.'

David Schindler, a internationally acclaimed scientist, from the University of Alberta says Oliver's comments about Hansen are out of line.

"Jim Hansen is well respected in the science community. He has received the Blue Planet Prize, one of the world's top awards for science. Oliver is foolish to be making the sort of remarks that he is, the Americans he is dealing with are not stupid enough to discount Hansen," "By acting like this, he is actually jeopardizing Keystone, not promoting it, and making Canada look like a country full of jerks."
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-politics/joe-oliver-making-canada-look-country-full-jerks-160842779.html

wtmusic

(39,166 posts)
2. I suppose that could be considered as a good sign.
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 05:11 PM
Apr 2013

Between Oliver, the Mayflower spill, and the EPA assessment KXL does not seem to be a done deal.

Joe Shlabotnik

(5,604 posts)
3. I'm still holding out some hope.
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 05:33 PM
Apr 2013

The flood of pro-oil company advertising, and attempts by Lee Terry and like minded legislators to take away the decision making power from the president indicates to me a palpable sense of desperation and fear from its supporters.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»Canadian Official Commits...