REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has asked U.S. President Barack Obama to "act swiftly" to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline project.

In a joint letter to Obama, Wall and 10 U.S. governors - including several from states the pipeline would cross - wrote that the project is "fundamentally important to the future economic prosperity of both the United States and Canada."

"We strongly urge you to ... act swiftly to approve the Keystone XL pipeline."

Missing from the letter is a signature from Alberta Premier Alison Redford.

Wall said Redford was aware of the letter and is supportive of it.

"I think it's helpful, frankly, that it's not always Alberta that has the oilsands that has to do these things," Wall told reporters. "I think this is helpful where you have the province of Saskatchewan, with a real stake in that project, taking a bit of a lead."

Federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver also offered support for Wall's efforts, echoing many of the same points that the project would create jobs, revenue and energy security.

In November, a group of U.S. Senators also wrote Obama, urging him to approve the $7-billion project.
Obama rejected TransCanada's application last year, but urged the company to reapply with a new route, citing a lack of sufficient environmental studies.

A decision from the White House on the project is expected in the next few months.

The White House did not offer comment on the letter Thursday.