The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, May 6, edition that in Canada, heated debates over pipelines have been taking place since the 1950s. The Globe's guest columnist Jackie Forrest writes that Canada is at a critical juncture in its long-standing pipeline debate, now considering the construction of a new pipeline to increase West Coast oil exports to Asia. The need for this pipeline is clear, especially with threats from the U.S., competition from Venezuela and heightened tensions due to the Iran war. In modern pipeline projects, the focus is on immediate utilization, with construction considered only when supply matches demand and prioritizing the lowest-cost options. However, in a world where great powers leverage economies for advantage, investment in new pipeline projects should be reassessed. An oil pipeline from Alberta to British Columbia's West Coast should be viewed as insurance, providing optionality in an uncertain world for both Canada and crude oil buyers. For Canada, it provides a hedge against risks from unpredictable U.S. policy, whether that's tariffs, export restrictions, new competition from Venezuela or other surprises that emerge over the horizon.