U.S. Ambassador Hoekstra says Alberta, Saskatchewan best case for U.S. oil supply
At the Pacific Northwest Economic Region summit in Edmonton, the ambassador said Canada is one of the best places for America to buy oil.
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Update — August 04, 2026: The majority of Alberta's oil exports to the United States do not travel directly from Alberta but instead flow through pipelines crossing other western provinces, with only three of Canada's six transborder oil pipelines crossing directly into the U.S. from Alberta and accounting for less than one-tenth of Canada's total export pipeline capacity. No pipelines currently carry Alberta natural gas directly into the United States. Experts noted that while an independent Alberta could likely negotiate continued access through other provinces to U.S. markets, such arrangements would require new agreements and would not be automatically guaranteed.
The U.S. ambassador to Canada says Alberta and Saskatchewan could make the "most compelling" case to meet the oil needs of the United States.
Pete Hoekstra made these remarks at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region's annual summit in Edmonton on Monday, July 20. He said the U.S. needs to find three to four million more barrels of oil per day over the next decade and that Canada is one of the best places to get it. "We have found over the last couple of decades that one of the best places in the world to get oil from is Canada," Hoekstra said. "The people that we have to work with in Alberta are great business partners. They're good business people."
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith delivered a keynote speech about energy and trade opportunities and how the region would benefit. Hoekstra noted that while U.S. President Donald Trump has said the country doesn't "need" Canadian oil, negotiations are continuing. Members of Trump's cabinet were eager to sign a deal last year for more Canadian oil, but the president wanted negotiations to continue because the U.S. has other options. Other conference topics included forest management, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and tourism.
The facts
Who is the U.S. ambassador to Canada?
Pete Hoekstra is the U.S. ambassador to Canada.
When did the ambassador speak at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region summit?
Pete Hoekstra spoke at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region's annual summit in Edmonton on Monday, July 20, 2026.
How much additional oil does the U.S. need to find per day?
The U.S. needs to find three to four million more barrels of oil per day over the next decade, according to Ambassador Hoekstra.
