Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says it will be another week or two before Canada will know with certainty how much extra oil it can produce and ship to help offset bans on the use of fossil fuels from Russia.
But he says longer-term conversations about Canada partnering with Europe on renewable energy are likely more realistic and more lucrative.
All of these talks are leading toward March 23, when the International Energy Agency is hosting a meeting of energy ministers in Paris. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault estimated this week Canada might be able to increase output by 200,000 barrels a day. Tristan Goodman, president of the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada, said we might be able to do twice that amount "if we're lucky."Critics of the government argue the Liberals' inability to get any new pipelines built have constrained Canada's oil industry and now we can't help when there is a need.
Wilkinson said he raised it with Granholm in Texas but Biden campaigned on a promise to cancel it, and Wilkinson said he doesn't see that changing.