Keystone project clears a hurdle

TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline has cleared a major hurdle south of the border.

The U.S. House of Representatives voting in favour of the pipeline Friday afternoon. If it gets built, it will carry oil from Alberta’s oil sands through the U.S. to the Gulf of Mexico. The Senate is expected to vote on the issue Tuesday.

If Congress approves, it would take the power of executive action out of President Barack Obama’s hands.

A state department spokeswoman says the Obama administration will act, but not before a review is completed.

Jen Psaki,State Department spokesperson: “As you know, there are a couple of factors, including the Nebraska court case as well as the number of public comments that led us to make a decision about delaying that earlier this spring.

Nebraska landowners are challenging the route of the pipeline in court.