Baird presses Americans for Keystone pipeline decision

WATCH: John Baird says it’s time for the state of limbo on Keystone to end

WASHINGTON – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird used a speech to a business audience on Thursday to press for a quick decision on the Keystone XL pipeline.

Speaking just across the street from the White House, Baird said the Obama administration needs to decide soon.

He elaborated on a message he delivered yesterday on Capitol Hill, that decision times is here.

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Baird told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce audience that prime construction weather is approaching and can’t be wasted.

“With the construction season coming up, I don’t want a single worker sitting at home when they could get getting a knock on the door saying ‘you got a great job’,” he said.

He said he’s not telling the U.S. government what to do – only to do things quickly.

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“If there’s one message I’m going to be promoting on this trip, it’s this: the time for Keystone is now. I’ll go further – the time for a decision on Keystone is now, even if it’s not the right one.

“We can’t continue in this state of limbo.”

The long-delayed pipeline would move crude from the Alberta oilsands south into the United States.

Environmentalists have questioned the project and President Barack Obama has repeatedly put off a decision on the line.