Keystone denial offers Canada an opportunity

DEAR EDITOR:

The many articles about President Joe Biden’s cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline have run the gamut from hand wringing to anger that the president would do such a thing to its most important trading partner. Virtually none, except for Adam Radwanski (Globe and Mail, 2019), have mentioned the opportunities for Canada in this decision.

The opportunity for Canada and the provinces to get the finger out and begin to treat the climate crisis as a real crisis. The opportunity to make serious investments in renewable energy as Canada emerges from the pandemic, many of which could be made in concert with the oil and gas industry if Canada develops its large geothermal energy potential.

The opportunity to stop wasting billions of taxpayers’ dollars propping up an industry that must die. The opportunity to become a climate leader in reality instead of stumbling along far behind most industrialized countries with the second or third worst record of greenhouse gas emissions per capita.

The timing could not be better. Canada finally has a decent climate plan and, when passed, Bill C-12 will require the federal government to set and meet five-year GHG reduction targets. Alberta and Saskatchewan have very high potential for wind, solar, and geothermal energy production. The only thing standing in the way is government recalcitrance bolstered by oil industry lobbying.

Michael Healey, Peachland