The author is correct. Canada is too busy tying itself into endless review pretzels. And any approval can now get tossed out any time when there is a change of government. 

Industries need certainty to invest, and can't have the rug pulled out by changing politicians (like Trudeau with Northern Gateway, and the NDP/ Greens attempt with KMX).  Approval must mean approval, at least on the government side (court challenges can of course happen). Just like no approval means no approval.  Better yet, have a totally independent reviewer at arms length from the politicians.

The American oil industry and environmental groups must just love it that we can never get our sh#t together. I'm sure we are a laughing stock to countries like the US and Australia, who seem to get projects approved relatively quickly (as is evidenced by their many LNG plants, where we can't manage even one).