Critics question value of Redford’s visit to Washington

CALGARY- Alberta’s premier has gone south, trying to convince Washington about the virtues of the stalled Keystone Pipeline project. However, Alison Redford’s latest trip has left some questioning its value.

Redford has been to the U.S. capital five times in the last two years, in an effort to get the plan approved to begin moving Alberta oil to American markets.

“We think the more options we have, the better price we can get for our product,” she told Global News. “The differential today is $39 to the United States, and $51 to world markets. We need these pipelines and we are going to keep working to get them because at the end of the day that’s how we build our province.”

Higher oil prices would mean higher revenues for both the provincial government and the Alberta energy industry. However, critics say if the project is approved, it will increase oil sands production and increase air pollution.

In an open letter to the U.S. State Department, Canadian Physicians for the Environment wrote:

“…air pollution kills about 20,000 Canadians a year and with tar sands expansion, it will only get worse. If we care about our health we need to leave tar sands oil in the ground…”

If approved, the $7 billion Keystone Pipeline would move more than 800,000 barrels of Alberta bitumen to the U.S. per day.

A final decision by President Barack Obama is expected in early 2014.