Independent Alberta Faces Pipeline Hurdles in US Oil Exports

An independent Alberta would face significant challenges in exporting oil to its biggest customer, the United States. According to Keith Wilson, leader of the separatist group Let Alberta Decide, the province's geography is not a problem, but rather Ottawa's control.

A recent graphic posted by Wilson shows thick arrows from Alberta pointing directly south, but this oversimplifies reality. In fact, most of Alberta's crude oil is shipped through pipelines that cross into the States via other western provinces like British Columbia and Manitoba.

While three Canadian transborder oil pipelines do cross into the States directly from Alberta, they account for less than one-tenth of Canada's total export pipeline capacity. The rest gets shipped through other provinces, making it complex for an independent Alberta to negotiate new trade agreements with its neighbors.