Prime Minister Mark Carney has asserted that Canada fuels American growth, citing energy exports after trade talks with U.S. officials ended without resolution. He stated Canada supplies 99% of U.S. natural gas imports, 85% of electricity imports, and 60% of crude oil imports. These figures, however, reflect imports rather than total consumption, with U.S. Energy Information Administration data showing Canadian natural gas accounts for about 8% of total U.S. use, though reaching over 90% in Pacific Northwest regions like Seattle and Northern California.
Energy expert Dulles Wang of Wood Mackenzie noted Canadian gas flows are regionally critical but represent a small share of overall U.S. supply, while also emphasizing the two-way nature of energy trade. The U.S. exports gas to eastern Canada, and pipelines operate continuously across two dozen border points. Wang warned that halting Canadian exports would severely harm Canada's economy by eliminating its primary buyer and crashing prices, calling it self-defeating. Enbridge, based in Calgary, remains a major player, having completed $19 billion in U.S. utility acquisitions in 2024.
The LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, B.C., began shipping liquefied natural gas to Asia last year, part of federal efforts to diversify markets. The government's Major Projects Office is supporting a second phase of that project and the proposed floating Ksi Lisims LNG facility off B.C.'s coast. Wang highlighted that data centres in the Pacific Northwest, powered by tech giants like Amazon and Google, rely on natural gas as baseload power, meaning disruptions would affect both heating and digital infrastructure.
Carney's claim of Canada supplying 99% of U.S. natural gas imports sounds powerful but obscures the fact that these make up only about 8% of total U.S. consumption. The real leverage lies in regional dependency, not overall volume, especially in areas like the Pacific Northwest where Canadian gas is irreplaceable. Halting exports would damage Canada more, given its lack of alternative markets. The economic risk makes energy an unlikely weapon despite political rhetoric.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
