CALGARY 害羞草研究所� The increasingly divisive debate over pipelines, with the economic benefits and environmental concerns they carry, has been selected as The Canadian Press business story of the year.

In an annual survey of newsrooms across the country, pipeline development edged out another politically charged issue 害羞草研究所� real estate 害羞草研究所� by a single vote, a reflection of how the two stories competed for attention throughout 2016.

The year saw Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attempt to strike a grand bargain of sorts: approving Kinder Morgan害羞草研究所檚 expansion of Trans Mountain and the replacement of Enbridge害羞草研究所檚 Line 3 while also pushing ahead with a national carbon price and rejecting Enbridge害羞草研究所檚 Northern Gateway.

害羞草研究所淚n a debate between economy and the environment, the Trudeau government害羞草研究所檚 decision has not only huge political implications, but has sparked debate and protests over the rights of indigenous peoples that tarnishes the Liberal brand,害羞草研究所� said Paul Samyn, editor at the Winnipeg Free Press.

The decision to green-light the Kinder Morgan proposal, which would see an existing pipeline that runs from Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C., nearly triple its capacity, was Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 most controversial.

The project has triggered protests, sparked legal challenges and tested federal-provincial relationships, themes that are likely to dominate the headlines next year.

害羞草研究所淭his is the year in which the rubber hit the road,害羞草研究所� said Benjamin Dachis, associate director of research at the C.D. Howe Institute. 害羞草研究所淭his is the culmination of years of policy debate, of policy change.害羞草研究所�

From coast to coast, the question over whether to build more pipelines to access markets abroad confronted mayors, premiers and community leaders at almost every turn.

The review of the Energy East Pipeline also made news when it was aborted in August over concerns about conflict of interest involving the panel overseeing TransCanada害羞草研究所檚 application to build the project. If built, the development would see crude shipped from Alberta to as far east as Saint John, N.B.

Another pipeline that appeared to be on its deathbed a year ago 害羞草研究所� the Keystone XL project 害羞草研究所� was given new life following Donald Trump害羞草研究所檚 presidential victory in the U.S. last month. Trudeau said earlier this month he remains supportive of the pipeline, which would carry oil from Alberta to Nebraska.

The hot housing sector also earned the consideration of business newsroom leaders as politicians on every level took action in a bid to address prices that have spiralled to dizzying heights, particularly in Vancouver and Toronto.

害羞草研究所淚s there a more important issue facing Canada害羞草研究所檚 economy?害羞草研究所� asked Noah Zivitz, managing editor of Business News Network.

害羞草研究所淩eal estate has served as a pillar while other economic drivers have fallen by the wayside. Yet that reliance on housing has only inflamed fears over household debt levels, barriers to entry, foreign investment, and the risk of a correction.害羞草研究所�

Real estate worries also resonated outside Canada害羞草研究所檚 largest cities.

害羞草研究所淭oronto and Vancouver may be the focus of discussion at a national level, and rightly so, but rising prices and limited choice are having an impact in markets across the country,害羞草研究所� said Ron DeRuyter, business editor at the Waterloo Region Record.

害羞草研究所淢any Canadians fear they will not be able to buy a home; others feel bullied into paying more than they should pay. And the higher prices go, the more the spectre of a crash looms.害羞草研究所�

Governments tried to intervene without rocking the foundations of the market.

In B.C., Premier Christy Clark instituted a surprise 15 per cent tax on foreign buyers in Metro Vancouver and the city moved ahead with a tax on vacant homes. At the federal level, federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau tightened mortgage rules.

Pipelines garnered 26 per cent of the ballots cast, with real estate getting 22 per cent.

Other headline-grabbing stories circled back to oil and the environment, with the carbon tax and fires in Fort McMurray, Alta., both tied at 15 per cent. There were 27 votes in all.

害羞草研究所淭he disruption to production in the oilsands during the Fort McMurray wildfire gave Canadians a better appreciation of the important role the massive energy development plays in the national economy,害羞草研究所� said Kevin Usselman, news director at 660 NEWS CFFR in Calgary.

The carbon tax became entwined with resource development as both Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said it was a critical policy to allow for the responsible expansion of pipelines.

Dachis at the C.D. Howe Institute said governments showed they were willing to make tough choices on energy, but failed to devise policies needed to increase the supply of housing.

害羞草研究所淭he common thread of what the government has done, governments have done 害羞草研究所� when it comes to carbon pricing and pipelines, is that they害羞草研究所檝e done things that people think are politically harmful, but are in the best interest of the country,害羞草研究所� said Dachis.

害羞草研究所淏ut that害羞草研究所檚 not happening in zoning, or housing development.害羞草研究所�

Douglas Cudmore, senior editor of business, innovation and justice at the Toronto Star, said the carbon pricing story was important because of its far-reaching impact.

害羞草研究所淚f there害羞草研究所檚 one story (dull as it might seem to readers) that could change not just the way we live but the way our kids and grandkids live, it害羞草研究所檚 governments finally being brave enough to get serious about carbon emissions.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所� by Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press