Congress nears vote on Keystone XL pipeline

There’s more news tonight that could have a huge impact on Canada’s economy. It appears six years of debate over the Keystone XL pipeline may be nearing an end in Washington.

Both houses of the U.S. Congress are pushing ahead with a vote on the controversial project which would carry Alberta oil to the U.S. gulf coast.

Democrat Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu: “I’m not asking us to do the impossible, I’m not asking us to do something that just came up last week. I’m asking us to move forward on a bill that has labor support, business support, general contractor support.”

Landrieu took to the floor requesting the U.S. Senate consider a bill to authorize the Keystone XL pipeline — a popular project in her energy-rich state of Louisiana. The bill now is headed for a vote on Tuesday.

Landrieu: “It is time for America to become energy independent and that is impossible without the Keystone Pipeline and other pipelines like it that move our energy from where it is produced to where it is consumed.”

The pipeline would carry oil sands crude from Alberta to refineries in Texas.

When the Republicans took control of the U.S. Senate following midterms, Canadian Finance Minister Joe Oliver said he was very hopeful the stalled Keystone project would now get approval. Supporters say it will mean jobs on both sides of the border.

U.S. President Barack Obama has been pushing the 5.4 billion dollar project back for years. In part, bending to pressure from environmentalists who say it is a massive step backward in the fight against climate change.

Republicans in the House of Representatives have scheduled a vote for Thursday to approve the project.

With Republican control of the house, the bill to approve the Keystone pipeline is expected to pass.

However, Republicans need two-thirds majority to overturn a presidential veto — something they don’t have. And it’s unclear whether President Obama would sign the bill.