Kinew's Pipeline Support Brings Hope to Canada
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew's support for new pipelines has given Canada hope in strengthening its economy and national unity. He welcomes the possibility of oil or natural gas getting shipped from Hudson Bay, unlike obstructionist British Columbia premiers.
The proposed Northern Shield Energy Corridor pipeline would carry 500,000 barrels of oil per day from Hardisty, Alberta to a refinery in Sarnia, Ontario, staying within Canadian borders. Kinew's support is crucial as almost 500 km of the pipeline would pass through Manitoba.
Kinew has reasonable conditions for his support, including Indigenous governments being onside, workers taken care of, and environmental concerns addressed. He believes that pipelines are necessary for Canada to meet its domestic and export potential, citing 168 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and 2.1 trillion cubic meters of natural gas.
His willingness to back new pipelines is a rare example of interprovincial co-operation in Canada, which has cost the country dearly due to the failure to build pipelines in the past.