Canada is uniquely positioned to provide an abundance of secure and reliable energy. With conventional oil supply declining, the need for unconventional resources, like oil sands and shale gas, will increase. Alberta and British Columbia (BC), Canada’s two western-most provinces, house the vast majority of Canada’s oil and natural gas deposits, making both provinces key players in the push to develop resources sufficient to meet growing energy demand in North America and beyond.

This article looks at Alberta Oil Sands and BC's Shale Gas.

Alberta has the 3rd largest proven crude oil reserve in the world, next only to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Ninety-nine percent of those reserves are found in Alberta’s oil sands.

Full development of BC's shale gas resources will require the industry to successfully deal with two key issues - public concern with hydraulic fracturing and concerns of First Nations that have traditionally occupied the area.