The announcement that TC Energy is cancelling the problem-plagued Keystone XL pipeline project wasn’t a big surprise.

It seemed unlikely the Calgary-based company could dig its way out of U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision last January to yank its cross-border permit. 

After evaluating its options, it appears TC Energy reached that same conclusion on Wednesday.

But this week’s decision to pull the plug doesn’t put to rest a couple of key questions that have been hanging over the project — not just for Keystone XL, but for the Alberta government, environmental groups and other pipeline projects.

Can Alberta still get some money back? 

Last year,