Protest held in U.S. capital over proposed pipeline

Opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline project are hoping President Barack Obama will give thumbs down for Canada’s plan.

According to CBC News, thousands of protesters from across the United States showed up in Washington D.C. yesterday. They say Alberta’s oil sands have a negative effect on global warming.

The pipeline, which would extend Alberta’s oil sands to refineries along the Texas coast, is a plan the U.S. should be in favour of, according to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.

He was aware of what went on yesterday, and said the pipeline is great for job creation in both countries.

Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry said a decision will come soon, leaving the future of the Keystone pipeline up in the air for the time being.

After a similar protest last year, Obama postponed the same decision until after the presidential election.

Still, the Harper government has long been on the same page as the U.S. in terms of climate change.

The fate of the 7-billion-dollar project will be up to Secretary of State John Kerry.

He hopes to announce his decision in the near term.

STORY WRITTEN BY: KURT WEISS