Keystone XL Pipeline: Union Urges Obama To Approve Pipeline

CP | By The Canadian Press Posted: 03/04/2013 5:43 pm EST | Updated: 03/04/2013 7:36 pm EST

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CALGARY - A union representing pipefitters and plumbers has written to U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

The United Association represents 52,000 workers in Canada, some of whom will be responsible for building the pipeline and maintaining it once it's complete.

John Telford, director of Canadian affairs at the union, says approval of the $5.3-billion project will be a catalyst for many economic benefits in both the United States and Canada.

Other Canadian labour groups, such as the Alberta Federation of Labour, have been concerned Keystone XL will mean the fewer high-paying jobs in Canada.

They would prefer oilsands bitumen be processed into a more valuable product in Canada than shipped south of the border to be upgraded.

Last week the U.S. State Department issued a draft environmental report that did not flag any major concerns about the pipeline being built.

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From Getty: SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 25: Protestors against the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline hold signs and stand on a Keith Haring sculpture as they demonstrate outside of the W Hotel before the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama on October 25, 2011 in San Francisco, California. Hundreds of protestors from a wide variety of activist groups staged protests outside of the W Hotel where President Obama was holding a $7,500 per person fundraiser. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
From Getty: SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 25: A protestor against the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline climbs on a Keith Haring sculpture as he demonstrates outside of the W Hotel where U.S. President Barack Obama was holding a fundraiser on October 25, 2011 in San Francisco, California. Hundreds of protestors from a wide variety of activist groups staged protests outside of the W Hotel where President Obama was holding a $7,500 per person fundraiser. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
From Getty: Demonstrators listen to speakers in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline. (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)
From Getty: Demonstrators listen to speakers in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline. (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)
From Getty: A demonstrator waves signs in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline.
From Getty: A demonstrator dressed as an oil soaked bird in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline.
From Getty: Demonstrators listen to speakers in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline.
From Getty: A demonstrator holds signs in front of the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline.
From Getty: A demonstrator holds a magazine open to an article concerning tanker routes for the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline in front of the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline.
From Getty: Children demonstrate in front of the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline. AFP PHOTO / Karen BLEIER
From Getty: Demonstrators hold up a banner in front of the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline. AFP PHOTO / Karen BLEIER
From Getty: Demonstrators begin to line up around the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline.
From Getty: Demonstrators in front of the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline.
From Getty: Demonstrators line up in front of the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline.
From Getty: A sign is seen in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011 during a protest. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the Keystone XL pipeline.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/6320235175/in/set-72157628079975942" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/6320925438/in/set-72157628079975942" target="_hplink">Emma Cassidy and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/6320975886/in/set-72157628079975942" target="_hplink">Shadia Fayne Wood and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/6320307073/in/set-72157628079975942" target="_hplink">Amy Dewan and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/6320919878/in/set-72157628079975942" target="_hplink">Emma Cassidy and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/6320760272/in/set-72157628079975942" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/6321050482/in/set-72157628079975942/" target="_hplink">Clayton Conn and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mothernature/6306631974/" target="_hplink">mothernature photography</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.
Flickr image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/" target="_hplink">Josh Lopez and Tar Sands Action</a>.

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HarleyOpenRoad

2184 Fans

08:35 AM on 03/05/2013

The pipeline is a done deal.

The radicals should pick a new issue to set their hair on fire over.

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whatliesbeneath

18 Fans

01:54 AM on 03/05/2013

The major concern is that Canada diminshes itself to "beggar status" - that's the main concern. All of you so-called environmentalists out there who have no idea who the major players are in the game should "educate" yourselves. There are several backing environmentalists who have no other concern than their own profit in preventing Canadian oil from leaving Canada.

Please get your act together and promote this oil going east and thus to China - don't be behind the eight ball while your neighbors play you for fools. It is time for Canada and Canadians to wake up once and for all and start putting investment dollars in their own country and their own resources. If that Pipeline is ultimately approved - they plan to charge excise taxes on the oil coming from Canada - some friends they are.

And so many of you have degraded Harper as he has repeatedly tried to tell you the facts. Once they hit you clearly in the face perhaps you will be less critical of the PM who went directly out of this country to bring in other trade. Do not not know that he saw this coming not months -but years ago. And as for all of you Obama lovers - give your heads a shake - he is no friend to Canada either. Just another politican playing the game.

Time to wake up and smell the coffee and get approval for a line that goes to the east coast and do

Bobo Macoute

178 Fans

07:10 AM on 03/05/2013

I hope they build em in all directions. More options the better. Don't count me as a consumer of it, because I will hopefully buy a Tesla.

HUFFPOST SUPER USER

Rjchinook

556 Fans

08:39 AM on 03/05/2013

No way Koch Bros & Trans Canada can take their dirty so called oil & shove it! I prefer to leave Mother Earth livable for my grandkids & their grandkids!

10:03 AM on 03/05/2013

Unless your grandkids are going to be born 50 years from now - that won't happen - and even longer than that. There are more than 4000 products made from petrochemicals, including your computer. Unless and until innovators come up with alternatives it will not happen. In the meantime unless Canada "grows up fast" - they will be left behind - because nothing will stop this.

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opprobrious

More speech. Less Flagging.

922 Fans

01:51 AM on 03/05/2013

I said that this was a done deal a very long time ago and guess what? It's a done deal. Environmentalists should focus on those projects that aren't done deals but threaten the earth's inhabitants even more, beginning with the NGP.

http://www.pipeupagainstenbridge.ca/

11:45 AM on 03/05/2013

Ever wonder why the environmentalists focus on Canada but not on Venezuula? They would be beaten to within an inch of their lives if they approached any other oil-producing country. We are much too soft and that is not doing us any good,. As for the pipeline - sure they will build it - since they plan to collect tax on it as soon as it crosses the border - yup really good friends - eh.

01:28 PM on 03/05/2013

Where do you get the idea that environmentalists don't focus on Venezuela and that they would be beaten within an inch of their lives for doing so? That's simply false. A simple Google search reveals that environmentalism is even being discussed within its borders.

Keystone XL Pipeline: Union Urges Obama To Approve Pipeline

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