Chicago, called the City of Broad Shoulders, has a lot to be happy about these days. At a time when many Americans are watching oil markets closely, Chicago residents can take comfort in knowing that about 60 percent of their oil supply comes from Canada.

Today, more than 2 million barrels of Canadian oil is imported to the United States every day, and some of it travels by pipeline to refineries in the Midwest where it is refined into oil products such as gasoline. If the State Department approves the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline soon, Canadian oil will be transported all the way to refineries on the Gulf Coast, creating jobs and vastly improving U.S. energy security.

As Fox News in Chicago reported, although the pipeline project has its detractors, its benefits could be subst... more »

Today is Canada Day. On July 1, 1867, Canada became a self-governing country consisting of a federation of the four provinces of Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. Since this is a national holiday, Canadian citizens across the country are celebrating with parades, festivals and fireworks.

It's fitting that on this day we acknowledge Canada's contributions to America's energy security.

Our friendly neighbor to the north is the largest importer of crude oil to the United States. About 2.5 million barrels of oil arrive from Canada every day to fuel the U.S. economy, and about half of the oil is derived from Canada's oil sands.

With oil sands production expected to more than double in the next decade, pipeline companies and refiners are preparing to handle more of this secure res... more »

This week, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit the United States, and high on the agenda in discussions with President Obama should be our country's energy partnership with Canada.

The prime minister's visit underscores the importance of developing more of North America's oil and natural gas. Even with additional alternative energy, continued development of oil and natural gas is of utmost importance to both Canada and the United States as these resources will continue to drive our economies and provide employment for millions. Canada's ample resources--including its oil sands--will help meet our future demand.

With this in mind, U.S. refiners are investing huge sums to expand and upgrade plants to make more fuel from Canadian oil sands while subject to strict federal, state... more »