Borders, Boundaries, and the Politics of Petroleum Pipelines

Borders, both territorial and constitutional, have been a longstanding feature of petroleum politics in Alberta. This article suggests there is an important linkage between borders and interests. Raising borders, affirming borders, and eliminating borders may be viewed as political strategies actors will seek in order to realize their preferred outcomes. These strategies have figured importantly throughout the political history of petroleum and pipeline development in Alberta. Traditionally, the debates over natural gas and oil pipeline development were the prerogative of producer, consumer, and national security concerns. Today's pipeline debates are joined by new interests, those of environmentalists and First Nations. Throughout these debates borders have remained an important political resource.