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First of all, Canada will always have oil for Canadians first.
Read below.
Canadian Oil Exports to the United States Under NAFTAIntroduction
There is a widespread belief that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) requires Canada to sell a fixed percentage of its total oil production to the United States. It has been suggested that, under NAFTA, Canada can do nothing to curtail oil exports to the United States, even in the event of energy shortages at home. This paper examines that claim.
/snip/
Interpreting the Energy Provisions in NAFTA
Article 605 of NAFTA has been interpreted by some to mean that Canada is required to sell a certain percentage of its energy output to the United States, even in the face of a severe domestic shortage. Moreover, they argue that NAFTA prevents this percentage from falling over time.
Neither of these statements is true. Canadian producers are free to sell as much oil as they wish to whomever they wish, including, for example, overseas customers. As a result, the share of total output exported to the United States can rise or fall according to the normal forces of supply and demand.
/snip/
Conclusion
Contrary to some claims, NAFTA does not commit Canada to exporting a certain share of its energy supply to the United States regardless of Canadian needs. Canadian producers sell without restriction on the open market.
The only significant limitation NAFTA places on Canada is that it prevents the Canadian government from implementing policies that interfere with the normal functioning of energy markets in North America. Provided they have the demand and can pay the price,
Canadian consumers could conceivably buy 100% of all energy produced in the country without violating NAFTA.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * **My comments:
This paper includes excerpts and references from the rules found in Chapter 6 of NAFTA, Energy and Basic Petrochemicals, and was prepared by Staff of the Parliamentary Information and Research Service (PIRS) of the Library of Parliament for general distribution to Canadian Parliamentarians to provide background and analysis of issues that may arise in the course of their Parliamentary duties.
So I sorta believe it.
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Regarding imports from
Venezuela, I can't find any info that supports that.
rather - I found
this:"Exports accounted for two-thirds of domestic output in 2007, up about three per cent over 2006. Although the U.S. accounted for the majority of export sales, other countries in places such as Asia began to creep into the mix.
Canada remains a net oil exporter, despite
imports that edged up 0.3 per cent to 851,000 bpd. About
half that figure came from OPEC countries such as Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq while the bulk of the remainder originated from Norway and the United Kingdom, which accounted for 39 per cent of imports."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * **
Furthermore, I can find no Imports for the West at all.
To the Contrary I find imports for the East - Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic
Both light and heavy crude - links below lead to the appropriate charts (.xls files)
Disposition of Domestic Light Crude Oil and Imports - 2007Disposition of Domestic Heavy Crude Oil and Imports - 2007Canadians get their share first and foremost.
Or we would surely revolt methinks.