Donald Trump says he will declare a national energy emergency to increase oil and gas production in the United States, casting uncertainty on the future of exports from Alberta.
According to the Canadian Energy Regulator, virtually all of Canada’s crude oil was exported to the United States in 2023. Almost 90 per cent of that comes from Alberta.
Fort McMurray, an urban centre of 70,000 people, is situated right in the heart of the Athabasca oil sands in the province’s north. About a third of the population works in the mine, quarry or in the oil and gas extraction industries.
The oil and gas industry is not just the economic driver for Fort McMurray, it’s the lifeblood of the community. Anything that impacts that sector is felt by the people and businesses there.
“When they’re doing well, and there are more people here, then all the smaller businesses reap the reward from that,” said Stu Wigle, a restaurant owner in Fort McMurray.
Trump said on Monday that a tariff on all Canadian exports to the United States, including oil and gas, may come next month, and residents are concerned about their livelihoods.
“We don’t want to see layoffs,” said Wigle. “What we want to see is new industry come, and oil and gas get bigger, and more people to live here and that small businesses thrive.”
Canada needs to look elsewhere, advocate says
Robbie Picard, an oil and gas advocate, says he doesn’t believe the impact will be felt immediately, but that this is a wake-up call for Canada to look at other markets to sell crude oil.
“If we don’t get our oil to other markets, … then we will have a big, big economic crisis on our hands that will last for a couple of generations,” said Picard.
“We’re definitely in a position where we could be supplying Europe. We could be supplying Asia with our product and then we wouldn’t be as dependent on the Americans.”
While Trump plans to make the United States energy-secure, Premier Danielle Smith wants Canada to build more pipelines.
“I would love to also talk with Quebec about how we might restart Energy East through their province. Would they be willing to do that? I’d like to start talking with British Columbia. How we might reactivate Northern Gateway,” said Smith.
And although there is still much uncertainty, Lisa Sweet, the interim CEO with the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism, says there is a silver lining.
“This conversation really gets Canadians to think about how important our resources are and continuing the conversation of how we can actually continue to invest in our energy sector.”
