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“There is every reason for a Trudeau-led government to want to find a successful and resilient rebirth of the energy industry, and that is probably going to be one that has more carbon responsibilities,” Moore said. “The issue of carbon control is going to turn out to be such a global market issue that, even if you don’t believe in it, you won’t be able to sell your stuff at a competitive price until those concerns are met.”

During the campaign, the Liberal position was “Canada needs new infrastructure, including pipelines, to move our energy resources to domestic and global markets. However these projects must earn the trust of local communities, respect Indigenous rights, and cannot put our lands and waters at risk.”

The party also said the Conservatives’ “polarizing approach to resource development and pipelines has hurt rather than enhanced Canada’s ability to get resources to market.”

Trudeau’s pro-Keystone stance won’t please Washington., where President Obama is expected to reject the project now that the Canadian election is out of the way. But U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday Canada’s change in government won’t change the outcome.

“The decision on Keystone is being based on the merits and on the countervailing balance of all the input that has come from a very exhaustive agency review. I have said again and again I want to get that done as fast as possible, and that is very true. I want to get it done,” he said Tuesday at the Climate and Clean Energy Investment Forum in Washington, D.C.

With Obama’s term in office ending next year, Trudeau has more time on his side and fresh support for Keystone could still emerge under a new U.S. administration. With Harper out, the Liberals have a chance to try showing that gentler face of Canada’s energy sector and keep hardliners at bay. That’s assuming they haven’t underestimated the complexities of pipeline politics — and are genuinely willing to do the hard work required to get them back on track.

Financial Post

ccattaneo@nationalpost.com

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