This Tuesday, I was on a call with
Canadian counterparts that serve in Canada’s Parliament.
We discussed issues of concern that impact
both legislative bodies in our respective countries.
Canada and the United States share the
same values and are closely tied to each other culturally and economically.
Canada is our closest ally and we need to
effectively work with them on issues that impact both countries.
On his first day in office, President
Biden made the hasty decision to shut down the construction of the Keystone XL
pipeline. A decision that cost the United States and Canada over 10,000 jobs.
This decision by President Biden sent a
clear signal to other Democrats across the country.
It doesn’t matter if it will cost your
state jobs and raise gas prices, or irritate an ally, you’d better listen to
ideologues in your party who say “Pipelines that transport oil are bad.”
But while the Keystone XL pipeline is
better known, the Canadians on the call were worried about a current pipeline
in use, the Enbridge Line 5.
The pipeline which has been in use since
1953 delivers the bulk of Canadian crude exports to the United States and also
supplies fuel to much of Ontario and Quebec.
In June 2019, the state of Michigan filed
a lawsuit to compel the decommissioning of the segment of Line 5 that runs
under Lake Michigan
The basis of the suit is that the pipeline
is a public nuisance that could become a source of pollution if it leaks.
This month, the Canadian government filed
a request to stop the state of Michigan from shutting down the pipeline.
Shutting down Line 5 would have an
immediate impact on crude oil supply for refineries – and, as a result,
increase the price of gas for Americans.
For the sake of North American energy
independence, for American jobs, and to mend relations with our closest ally, I’m
asking the Governor of Michigan to reconsider this lawsuit.
For that matter, I’m asking President
Biden and the entire Democratic Party to reconsider their stance on the use of
pipelines.
Take a cue from the former Governor of
Michigan, Energy Secretary Granholm, who said, “Pipelines are the best way to
move oil.”
