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One of Biden’s first acts will be to cancel the controversial pipeline.

In the lead-up to his inauguration on Wednesday, former Vice President and current President-Elect Joe Biden has made multiple statements and promises about what he will focus on in his first 100 days in office. Some of his major pledges include another stimulus package with greater emphasis on supporting the unemployed and small businesses, rollback of multiple policies enacted by President Donald Trump, and most recently, the cancellation of the construction permits for the Keystone XL pipeline.


The Keystone XL has been a source of conflict and controversy for nearly a decade now, with its promises of faster oil delivery countered by numerous environmental concerns, not to mention Native Americans whose land it would be built over. In 2015, then-President Barack Obama rejected the project outright, but this was reversed by Trump two years later. Canada, the source of the pipeline, has repeatedly stood by its safety and profitability for both countries.

“The Government of Canada continues to support the Keystone XL project,” Canadian Ambassador to Washington Kirsten Hillman told Politico on Sunday. “Keystone XL fits within Canada’s climate plan. It will also contribute to U.S. energy security and economic competitiveness.”

Nevertheless, a source close to Biden informed Reuters today that after he is sworn in, one of his first executive actions would be to cancel the pipeline’s permits. While Biden’s team have not publicly commented on the matter as of writing, he had previously said during his Presidential campaign that the pipeline would be a key issue.

Members of the Canadian government have expressed concern over this supposed decision, with the Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney, saying that cancelling the pipeline would weaken relations between the two countries and increase the US’ reliance on foreign oil.