The project, which would have exported crude from Hardisty, Alta., to Nebraska, has a long and winding history of approvals and rejections. First cancelled by the Obama administration, Keystone was revived by U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s first administration in 2017 before being quashed again by the Biden administration in 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n
South Bow, the TC Energy spinoff that now owns the Keystone Pipeline, said in a statement it was not privy to discussions between Canadian and U.S. officials about a possible revival.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“South Bow is supportive of efforts to find solutions that increase the transportation of Canadian crude oil. We will continue to explore opportunities that leverage our existing corridor with our customers and others in the industry,” the statement said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a departure from the company\u2019s position earlier this year, when South Bow told the Canadian Press in February it had \u201cmoved on\u201d from Keystone XL.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It would mark yet another resurgence of the long-troubled pipeline project, said Richard Masson, an executive fellow of University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy and former CEO of the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it comes forward, it\u2019s pretty amazing that it would come forward again, given the losses the last go-around,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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Richard Masson, an executive fellow of the University of Calgary\u2019s School of Public Policy, said were the Keystone XL pipeline to emerge again, it would need to start from scratch as there is no current proponent, right of way, or pipeline in place. (Justin Pennell\/CBC)<\/p>\n
The Alberta government invested about $1.5 billion<\/a> as equity in the Keystone XL pipeline in 2020. The final price tag put on Albertans was set at $1.3 billion. <\/p>\n Given that the U.S. has cancelled the pipeline twice, the only way Masson said he could see it happening would be if the U.S. government explicitly guaranteed money to see it developed.<\/p>\n \u201cThese things take four or five years to build, minimum. It might not be a Republican government in charge at that point. So, why would you get burned three times around on this?\u201d Masson said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the U.S. government said they want it, and I think it\u2019s a good thing for those U.S. refineries \u2026 they should backstop it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, agreed that any deal needs to be protected in order to get industry on board.<\/p>\n \u201cAny movement on Keystone XL would have to be 100 per cent shielded from future cancellation by any proponent that would take that on,\u201d he told CBC Radio’s Alberta at Noon<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cNo one’s got the financial appetite or willingness to take that on if there isn’t going to be basically a bulletproof shield on completion of that project.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Alberta has been lobbying in Washington, premier says<\/p>\n In recent months, the Alberta government has been vocal in its quest to pursue a new pipeline, announcing earlier this month<\/a> its intention to submit a formal application to the federal Major Projects Office for a new bitumen pipeline to the northwest coast of British Columbia.<\/p>\n While much conversation has focused on mounting tensions between B.C. and Alberta over that plan, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has also signalled her support for reviving the pipeline to the U.S. Midwest.<\/p>\n In February, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform<\/a> that the U.S. wanted \u201cthe Keystone XL Pipeline Built!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was just thinking, that the company building the Keystone XL pipeline that was viciously jettisoned by the incompetent Biden Administration should come back to America, and get it built \u2014 NOW! I know they were treated very badly by Sleepy Joe Biden, but the Trump Administration is very different \u2014 Easy approvals, almost immediate start!\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cAgreed, President Trump \u2026 that project should have never been cancelled,\u201d Smith wrote on X<\/a> the next day.<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Smith said she was pleased to see renewed conversation around Keystone elevated to such a level.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been talking about this from the beginning, and I\u2019ve been telling all my colleagues that as well. But we have been doing our own lobbying, as you know. We have an office in Washington,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n \u201cI spoke with Doug Burgum, even before he became secretary of the interior. We\u2019ve had meetings about how we can work together to partner on building more egress to the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney, who called for consequences and compensation<\/a> in the aftermath of Biden revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline in 2021, told CBC News the fact that Keystone was being discussed was \u201cfantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve been trying to get people to focus on that because it’s much simpler and less expensive than a West Coast pipeline,\u201d said Kenney. \u201cWe’re talking thousands of high-paying jobs, billions of dollars of additional tax revenues for all levels of government.” <\/p>\n Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said he has long “liked the Keystone XL pipeline,” and that it could be a bargaining chip with the Trump administration. But he cast doubt on focusing on a pipeline through the United States.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n “What we’ve learned is building more export capacity to the U.S., which has proven to be a difficult partner under this administration, is not as important as building pipeline capacity that gets us to [other] export markets,” said Nenshi.\u00a0<\/p>\n In a statement, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the party was in support of infrastructure like the Keystone XL pipeline.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are glad to hear President Trump and his administration express renewed interest in the Keystone XL pipeline. One of the first executive orders he signed in 2017 was the approval of this pipeline,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n \u201cIn Canada, Keystone XL was approved under a Conservative government in 2010. Prime Minister Carney should know that he will have the Official Opposition behind him if he does the right thing and gets this crucial project moving.\u201d<\/p>\n WATCH | Conservatives are \u2018welcoming renewed interest\u2019 in Keystone XL pipeline, says Scheer: Conservatives are \u2018welcoming renewed interest\u2019 in Keystone XL pipeline: Scheer<\/p>\n Opposition House leader Andrew Scheer says he supports the potential renewal of the Keystone XL pipeline project while reiterating the Conservatives’ call to remove regulations on the fossil fuel industry.Environmental regulations, political realities<\/p>\n Heather Exner-Pirot, director of natural resources, energy and environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said finding a private backer would be \u201cimpossible with the current regulations we have right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that Carney is bringing up Keystone XL to Donald Trump \u2026 tells me that Carney will play ball on getting the environment in which a Keystone XL could be built,\u201d Exner-Pirot said. \u201cAnd that means that the emissions cap would have to go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1760358519_500_default.jpg\")
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, speaking to reporters Wednesday, said U.S. President Donald Trump has been ‘quite interested’ in seeing a reboot of the Keystone XL pipeline. (CBC News)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1760358520_995_default.jpg\")
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said he has long ‘liked the Keystone XL pipeline.’ (CBC News)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1760358520_927_default.jpg\")
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Heather Exner-Pirot, director of energy, natural resources and environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, says current environmental regulations would need to change to find a private backer. (Paula Duhatschek\/CBC)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1760358521_385_default.jpg\")
James Coleman, a University of Minnesota law professor who focuses on energy, says the economic case for Keystone XL remains strong, but there are several challenges, including legal and political hurdles, as well as the potential for changes in presidential administrations. (CBC News)<\/p>\n