Is Carney willing to play the Keystone card?

opinion

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government sees the Keystone XL proposal as a lever to make a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Reviving Keystone XL is, in the eyes of former Alberta premier Jason Kenney, a brilliant “judo” move.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s suggestion that the Keystone XL pipeline project could be revived could end up tying Canada more closely to the United States, rather than diversifying trade.

But the idea turns U.S. President Donald Trump’s own talk about Canada on its head, Mr. Kenney argues, perhaps making him realize there is something he wants from this country – something that could be leverage for Canada in trade talks.

“Trump has said endlessly he doesn’t need anything from Canada, including our energy ,” Mr. Kenney said in an interview.