Diane Francis: In the 19th century, Canada remained independent by building, at huge expense and great risk, the Canadian Pacific Railway along an all-Canadian route, rather than relying on shortcuts through the United States. The same prudent routing strategy was applied to the construction of a natural gas pipeline from west to east in 1954, but not to oil pipelines. This vulnerability has finally come home to roost.
In November, Michigan ordered a key portion of the major pipeline carrying Canadian oil eastward — Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline — to be shut down by the end of May. The key portion consists of 7.2 kilometres of twin pipelines that cross under the Straits of Mackinac.
This represents a serious flash point between the United States and Canada. The stakes couldn’t be higher and it is entirely Canada’s fault for never building an all-Canadian pipeline to transport Western Canadian oil eastward.
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