Plus I'm sure they can find some loopholes that can get the pipeline built for the "good" of the nation...
I heard a proponent of another bitumen pipeline decrying the opposition to the pipeline and saying that if they have to use rail transport, there will be a cost of $5/barrel that he described as a 'disaster' for the country. Really? Where would the $5 go? Mostly to Canadian railways, their workers and suppliers. To be sure it would be a loss to the producers of the bitumen but not a loss to the country as the $5 would be widely spread in the economy. (I am not suggesting rail transport of bitumen is a good idea.) This example of the greedy thinking about what is good for the country carries across this whole pipeline proposal.
If the bitumen were to be refined in-situ and shipped via pipeline as refined product the risk and opposition would be greatly reduced as the products would at least float if not evaporate after a leak. Operating the refinery would provide employment in Canada. They could also use a smaller less costly pipeline.