While prioritizing civilization terrorism is always the first resort, a railway could outlast dead ender energy compared to a pipeline. Quicker/cheaper and able to transport anything of use across the country and to ports for export. New northern routes can mitigate the danger of accidents, and access cheap land that eventually increases population. Expanding Thunder Bay ports for more St Lawrence shipping, and Canadian built ships is a lot of steel use too. Would free up passenger rail traffic in windsor-Quebec corridor.