REGINA – Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says a long-awaited report by the U.S. State Department on the Keystone XL pipeline is cause for some optimism.
However, Wall also cautions that at the end of the day, the final decision on the project rests with U.S. President Barack Obama.
The premier has said the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry oilsands bitumen to Gulf Coast refineries, is an important project for Canada.
The pipeline would cross into Montana from Saskatchewan.
Wall says the report helps because it addresses environmental concerns, specifically saying the pipeline would not expand the oilsands, so there wouldn’t be more greenhouse gas emissions.
He’s also pleased that the report goes further to talk about economic benefits and the comparative safety of pipelines to rail when it comes to moving oil.