Will Canada Declare War Over Keystone?

Canada, America’s largest trading partner and largest foreign supplier of oil, has been amazingly patient over Obama’s clearly insincere dithering over approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. Back when I was still in Washington at AEI, Ken Green and I would occasionally put together panel discussions that included Keystone issues, and not only would the Canadian embassy decline to send anyone to participate, they didn’t even want to register for the event, so sensitive were they to mot wanting to be seen to intrude on domestic American politics. (Someone usually turned up from the embassy, but made no comments during discussion.)

That’s what makes notable the news stories yesterday that included public remarks of frustration from the Canadian ambassador to the U.S., Gary Doer. Doer made public a letter complaining about a new EPA analysis meant to undermine the Keystone pipeline—an analysis plainly intended to give Obama cover to block it since the State Department, no doubt against intense political pressure from John Kerry, looks to be playing the matter straight and issuing a favorable final ruling on Keystone.

From the Wall Street Journal:

Mr. Doer was more critical in his letter, both which were sent on Tuesday.

“One is left with the conclusion that there has been significant distortion and omission to arrive at the EPA’s conclusions,” wrote Mr. Doer, who also asked to discuss EPA’s letter with the State Department.

The fact that Doer made his letter public, and wants to meet with the State Department to complain about it, suggests Canada’s patience with Obama has reached its limit.  Smart diplomacy in action!

Meanwhile, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is out today with this short video about Keystone.  They’ve run out of patience, too.

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