Another major topic that is discussed about the Keystone XL Pipeline is why it is so

important to keep a healthy relationship with Canada. Most would say that Canada is just a

friendly neighbor of the United States that Americans do not do much business with and do not

necessarily need to keep a good relationship with. They also argue that oil that is much cleaner

than the tar sand’s oil can be bought from other countries around the world.

In fact, Canada actually helps out many American’s with the trade between the two

countries. Not only do they supply us with many commodities, but they also supply us with lots

of jobs. Some of these jobs come from the oil that would be pumped through the Keystone

pipeline and travels to a number of refineries that exist in the Midwestern and Southern states of

America. With production of the Keystone, not only would the pipeline itself generate thousands

of temporary jobs to those who help construct the line, but it would also cause an increase in the

amount of full time jobs in the refineries and the other parts of the pipeline. For example,

"Canada exports about 80 percent of its oil to the United States, most of it comes from the oil

sands, which, along with the energy industry, are critical to Alberta's economy. Austen says that

“Even during the current oil price slump, the sector provides about 140,000 jobs and, before the

collapse of the oil prices, royalties from the oil and gas industry made up about 20 percent of

Alberta's budget" (Austen par. 10). This shows that Canada needs us just as much as we need

them in order to supply the people of both nations with jobs and cheaper commodities.

Not only will resuming the Keystone help mend America’s relationship with Canada and

create more jobs, but it will also help with the exchange of products that can range from vehicles

to crops to plastics that are developed in Canada. This also supplies jobs to many American and

Canadian people, further helping mend our currently not-so-great relations with Canada’s

government and people. As noted by Mr. Kenney, a premier in the Canadian government, states
in the article “Biden Pipeline Halt, a Nod to the Environment, Stirs Anger in Canada,” “‘This is a

gut punch for the Canadian and Alberta economies,’ . . . . It is an insult directed at the United

States' most important ally and trading partner on day 1 of a new administration '” (qtd. in

Austen par. 8). Showing that Canada and their administration feels they are very important to

America and their trade market and have been for many years. For the most part, they are

correct, as America does a significant amount of trading involving oil and agriculture

commodities.

Another impactful product of mending our relations would be the decrease in oil product

prices throughout the United States. With the oil from Canada, the amount of money spent on

transportation of the product would greatly decrease and benefit both countries and their people

by supplying them with cheaper fuel prices. As of now, we are seeing an increase in gas prices

across the United States that is primarily a result of these transport prices as the oil the Unites

States is receiving now comes from overseas. Thune and Eshoo argue over topics about the

construction of the pipeline and talk about how Canada will continue to produce oil from the tar

sands despite America’s choice; additionally, instead of buying oil from more hostile countries,

Thune and Wshoo think the U.S. should continue the pipeline and use the Canadian crude to

avoid transportation overseas (par. 11). This information comes straight from the United States

government debate over whether or not to resume the construction of the line or continue to

obtain oil by rail or overseas from other countries.

Additionally, without Keystone, Canada will export their oil to other countries. This does

not sound bad at first until one notices that many Americans would be put out of jobs. As the

refineries as the oil would either be sold crude or Canada would construct their own refineries

and cut the U.S. out of the picture causing us to lose business and jobs and still paying more for a
commodity that is being produced so close to the border. Additionally, in the article “Impact of

the Keystone XL Pipeline on Global Oil Markets and Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” authors Peter

Erickson and Micheal Lazurus explain that if Canada markets their oil to the world they will

increase the competitiveness in global markets and lead to increase in oil production to account

for the slightly lower price (778). This impact would lead to more environmental issues

internationally and be on a much larger scale.