Statement from Environmental Defence Executive Director Dr. Rick Smith on U.S. government’s decision to delay TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline

“We applaud President Obama’s decision to delay a permit for TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline in order to further review its potential impacts.

Today’s announcement sends an important signal to Canada’s tar sands industry: citizens are standing up for a clean energy future. Just five days ago, 12,000 Americans showed up at the White House to urge President Obama to stick by his pledge to reduce dependence on oil. Canada needs to pay attention to this message. There is no such thing as “business as usual” for the tar sands industry any longer. The longer Canada delays getting serious about reining in tar sands pollution and transitioning to a clean energy economy, the more of this type of controversy we should expect. Read more…