Premier optimistic despite looming Keystone veto showdown

Premier Brad Wall says he’s disappointed a bill to approve construction of the Keystone X-L pipeline could be vetoed by the president.

Despite the likelihood of another setback for the pipeline that would bring Alberta crude to Texas, Wall said “there’s more hope now” that something could happen to get the project approved.

“The Senate is in majority hands that support Keystone; the House is in majority hands that support Keystone. It’s only the White House,” Wall said during an event in Saskatoon on Thursday.

The bill, introduced in the Senate on Tuesday, has the support of 63 senators, but Keystone supporters need to whip another four votes to overcome a presidential veto. 

“That’s probably unlikely,” Wall said after hearing from the government agent in the U.S. working on the file.

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However, Wall said what is possible is the House and Senate drafting a broader energy bill that includes Keystone and has components that the president and the Obama administration want.

“There’s a chance then that would either avoid a veto or if vetoed, and sent back to the House, they could find that threshold to overturn the presidential veto,” Wall said.

Wall estimates Keystone would free up $100-million in oil revenue annually for the province.

With files from the Canadian Press

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On Twitter: @princealbertnow