2012 U.S. Presidential Election

[kurai]

looks like some misleading analysis has been provided!

- the entire point of keystone xl is to get rid of the price discount
- this discount is provided because albertan crude supply exceeds the american refining capacity of existing pipeline targets
- keystone xl connects this excess supply to additional refining capacity: this eliminates the need to sell at a discount (the discount is not a formal thing, just a lower market price)

harper theorizes that escaping this captive refinement system through the use of asian buyers would allow the same bypass of crude discounting. but no excess pipeline to actually get the crude to these buyers exists.

but of course canada is going to develop its export supply chain towards whichever buyer is willing to pay the most regardless of whether or not keystone is expanded. consider that if (and when) the albertan supply grows beyond the new refinement capacity, and crude discounting was again necessary, another buyer would have to be found, and it might just be more economically favorable to not focus on america in that instance. there is no reason to favor america over any other buyer if it is the less profitable option.