EDMONTON – 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 says 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.
He says members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s cabinet were eager to sign a deal last year for more Canadian oil but that the president wanted negotiations to continue because the U.S. has other options.
Hoekstra made the comment in Edmonton at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region’s annual summit.
Many politicians and industry officials on both sides of the border are scheduled to speak at the conference.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to give a keynote speech about energy and trade opportunities and how the region would benefit.
Other topics at the conference include forest management, artificial intelligence, agriculture and tourism.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2026.