One person can reject an $8 billion oil pipeline, as former U.S. President Obama did when he exercised his veto.  And one person can override the veto as current President Trump plans to do.

President Trump rejected the TPP (Trans Pacific Trade Protocol) and asked Trans Canada Pipelines to reapply for Keystone pipeline approval.  These are two separate points but both occurred this week.

Should one person wield such singular power?

In Canada the Head of State is largely a ceremonial role.  The leader of the elected political party (the Prime Minister) has little stand alone power and needs to rely on the consensus of elected officials to approve or reject things like trade agreements.

Canada is a monarchy led the the Queen of England whom is technically the Head of State. In the U.S. the President, as Head of State is elected and therefore it is possibly reasonable he or she could have greater unilateral authority.

This is not to say the U.S. senate and congress are not valid counterpoints to the balance of power, still though, there are things a President can proclaim uni-laterally.

Not withstanding the nations checks and balances (congress, senate and the judiciary) with a President like Mr. Trump I do get a bit uneasy.  More so than I would if say Rob Ford (deceased) had ever become the Prime Minister of Canada.

North Americans, if not the entire world, are in for an interesting four years as Mr. Trump flexes his muscles.

Ultimately, environmental decisions taken in the context that global warming and destruction of the earth are myths that should not stand in the way of progress could be his legacy.

I guess I am lucky to probably be dead by the time the impacts are really seriously being felt.