If the United States turns it back on increased supplies of Canadian oil by cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline, Canada will look to export more to other countries, particularly in Asia, federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said Friday.
Mr. Oliver told The Globe and Mail’s editorial board that he does not make this point to U.S. officials “unless they ask,” but “if they don’t want our oil….it is obvious we are going to export it elsewhere.”
China could be a key customer in the future, he said. “As a broad strategic objective we have to diversify our customer base…..[and] China has emerged as the largest consumer of energy in the world, so it is utterly obvious what we must do.”
Mr. Oliver did not specifically endorse the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, which would carry oil sands petroleum to the west coast, where it would be transported to Asia by tanker, saying he will respect the regulatory process that is now evaluating that project.
[More]
We had bloody well have an agreement with the US, notwithstanding the Ohole to the south. At least when he is gone we will still be on the same (civilized) side. given the previous experience with coal we cannot sell/give our oil to China. To hell with world price, they will dictate price!