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 Ottawa, ON – November 14, 2016

Pipeline would create much needed jobs in Western Canada

Today, Chris Warkentin, Member of Parliament for Grande Prairie–Mackenzie, called on Prime Minister Trudeau to reopen discussion with the United States on building the Keystone XL pipeline.

“I am calling on the Prime Minister to reach out to President-elect Trump‎ at the earliest opportunity and make the approval of this job-creating project a top priority,” Warkentin said. “President-elect Trump has made it clear that he supports the Keystone XL pipeline.”

The Keystone XL pipeline, which had been stalled for years under the Obama administration, would create new jobs for Western Canadian workers and offer a new way to get Canadian resources to market. American officials have recommended that this safe and responsible construction project be approved, but President Obama delayed project approval.

Warkentin is concerned that approval for this much needed infrastructure project will fall victim to a lack of political will from Prime Minister Trudeau.

“Since he was elected, Prime Minister Trudeau has been hesitant to approve job creating pipeline projects,” Warkentin said.

“Families in the Peace Country that rely on our energy sector have been given hope by the President-elect’s support for the pipeline,” Warkentin continued. “With cross border support for Keystone XL at an all-time high, Canadians cannot afford for Liberals to drag their feet. Anything less than a swift approval will be counted as a failure for Trudeau’s administration.”

“The strong, cooperative friendship the United States shares with Canada will stand the test of time,” Warkentin concluded. “As our country works with the new administration, I will continue to stand up for hardworking families in the Peace Country and support job creating initiatives in Western Canada.”

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For more information, please contact: (613-992-5685), or chris.warkentin@parl.gc.ca.