Watch above: Alberta premier Jim Prentice comments on the Keystone XL pipeline.
CALGARY – While the Republican-dominated U.S. House of Representatives approved the Keystone XL pipeline Friday, the project still faces some big hurdles.
The bill will now go before the U.S. Senate where it has a good chance of passing, but only with Democrat support.
Alberta premier Jim Prentice is ‘cautiously optimistic’.
“We’re hopeful, we’re optimistic,” said Prentice Friday. “The growth of bipartisan support for the Keystone pipeline is really encouraging and I think there’s momentum.”
READ MORE: U.S. House votes in favour of Keystone XL pipeline
Assuming the Senate does approve the bill, it would then land on U.S. President Barack Obama’s desk for approval.
Political analyst Duane Bratt of Calgary’s Mount Royal University predicts the bill will die there.
“I think for a number of reasons the President will not sign it,” said Bratt. “The President will veto it.”
On Friday, Obama reiterated he doesn’t think the Keystone pipeline will have many benefits for Americans.
“Understand what this project is,” said Obama. “It is providing an opportunity for Canada to pump their oil, send it through our land down to the Gulf, where it will be sold everywhere else.”
But Bratt believes Obama could be persuaded to sign the bill.
“He’s going to want something in return, so why not do some horse trading? This is the way all things are done.”
Bratt suggests Republican concessions on immigration reform, an issue high on Obama’s agenda, could be all that’s needed to get his signature on the Keystone bill.
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