Canadian Prime Minister Lobbies U.S. for Pipeline

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323582904578487242641612834.html

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper took his case for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline to the U.S. on Thursday, burnishing Canada's environmental credentials and saying the arguments for the project are "overwhelmingly on the side of approval."

Speaking in New York, Mr. Harper repeated arguments his deputies have made repeatedly in their own trips to Washington. Ottawa says the project will reduce U.S. dependence on oil from less stable and less friendly countries like Venezuela, and create jobs on both sides of the border. But by making the pitch himself, Mr. Harper ratcheted up the level of government lobbying over the pipeline, proposed by Calgary-based TransCanada Corp. TRP.T +0.04%