Joe Oliver, Canadian natural resources minister and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall are set to woo the lawmakers and industry leaders in the United States to approve the controversial Keystone pipeline that would transport tar-sands oil from Alberta to Galveston Texas, for shipment to Latin America and Europe.
The Canadian natural minister will visit Chicago and Houston Tuesday and Wednesday while the Saskatchewan chief will be in Washington Thursday.
While the final decision on the Kestone Pipeline has not come from the US, it seems that Canadian federal government is doing everything it can to convince the Obama administration that the Keystone pipeline project won't be a threat to the global environment.
"We're going to say we're very responsible from an environmental point of view," The Globe and Mail has quoted Oliver as saying.
"We think the facts are known. We hope they (US) will do the right thing," said the natural resources minister.
Alberta Premier Alison Redford last month visited Washington, lobbying the American leaders and propagating the benefits of the pipeline project.
Stressing the need for constant lobbying, Brad Wall said that Canada needs to make the case in a more proactive and progressive way.
"We need to go down and start making the case in a more proactive and progressive way around our records, our respective provincial records, around the environment," said Brad Wall.
In a draft environment impact statement last Friday, the U.S. state department said that the pipeline project would not accelerate the global warming but would create jobs and economic growth in both the countries.
"The approval or denial of any one crude oil transport project, including this proposed project, really remains unlikely to significantly impact the rate of development of the oil sands or the continued demand for heavy crude oil in the U.S.," said the Kerri-Ann Jones, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
The Keystone project is under the observation of the United States of America and President Barrack Obama will make the final decision by July.
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