He must have hit the point where he figured a later rejection would be harmful to the Democrats in next November and would allow time for the Canadians to wait it out (imagine a January 19, 2017 rejection which could be reversed in two days). Now, the pipeline to the Pacific for the Chinese will be started immediately and won't be stopped even if this is reversed in 2017.
Actually, TransCanada will just focus on the Energy East Pipeline, adding 1,600 km of new pipeline and converting 3,000 km of NG pipeline to crude. It will run from Hardisty, AB to Saint John, NB, where Canada’s largest refinery (Irving Oil) is located.
Currently, the majority of refining in Eastern Canada is of Middle Eastern crude. This pipeline, if approved by Turd-owe and the Lieberals, would do much to reduce Eastern Canada’s dependence on foreign oil. Some may be exported, but I would hope that much will be used here in Canada.
AFA twinning the TransMountain Pipeline, THAT is less certain, as many First Nations (aka Natives, Indian’s, etc.) object to such work on a pipeline through their ‘territories’. Turd-owe, every the politically-correct leftist, won’t want to pizz-off the First Nations.
I suspect China will be SOL to receive much Canadian crude.