441-01335 (Natural resources and energy)

According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, Canada has continued to gradually reduce oil imports. For example, Canada imported 922,000 barrels per day in 2019 and 740,000 barrels per day in 2022—a 20% drop. This compares to oil exports on the order of 3.8 million barrels per day.

The United States continues to be to be the largest source of Canada’s imported crude oil, accounting for about two-thirds of Canada’s crude oil imports.

Almost all Canada’s oil imports are destined for refineries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec that do not have direct access to pipelines.

Refineries optimize their crude sourcing to find the right mix of crude types in order to achieve its set target for product yield and profitability. Restricting refinery access to crude oil imports would likely result in higher costs for the refineries and Canadians consumers.

The federal government is supporting workers across Canada. Through initiatives such as the Regional Energy and Resources Tables, the government is working with provinces and territories to identify the top economic opportunities presented by the global shift to a net-zero world – and jointly seizing those opportunities to create sustainable jobs for Canadian workers.

The government is working actively with the oil and gas industry to lower emissions, deploy clean technologies, and create sustainable jobs in every oil and gas-producing region of this country – including Alberta and Western Canada, but also including Newfoundland and Labrador.