Canada is a Top 10 Global Energy Producer - We Should Be Proud!

3rd – Hydroelectricity

Canada is currently the third-largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world (2022) behind China and Brazil, with the United States and Russia in fourth and fifth place. In 2022, hydro accounted for just under 62% of Canada’s total electricity generation.

Hydropower is a cornerstone of Canada's electricity sector. Several provinces lead the way in hydro capacity, most notably Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador. To meet rising electricity demands, Canadian governments continue to invest in new hydroelectric projects and upgrades to existing infrastructure, reinforcing the country’s commitment to generating power using its vast freshwater resources ^[1].

Today, the hydro sector supports up to 130,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide and adds more than $35 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) every year ^[2]. Hydro is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, further benefiting Canadians with improved access to hydroelectricity. Most of Canada’s electricity exports come from hydro, which helps displace other forms of power generation in the U.S. ^[3]

4th – Crude Oil

Canada is home to the third-largest proven oil reserves in the world, at around 171 billion barrels, and is a top-five global producer and exporter. Globally, Canada holds about 9% of the world’s recoverable oil reserves, almost all of which is found in Alberta’s oil sands ^[4]. In total, the oil sands hold over an estimated two trillion barrels, much of which is not currently recoverable using economically viable means.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that most of Canada’s oil comes from Alberta, accounting for 84.1% of national production (2023). Next up is Saskatchewan, with 10.2% of Canada's oil production, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador with 4.5%. Smaller amounts are produced in Manitoba, at 0.9%, and British Columbia, at 0.2%, respectively.

Despite the Trans Mountain Expansion coming online last year, which has allowed Canada to send more exports to China and elsewhere abroad than ever before, our country still sends a majority of its exports to the United States. This lack of market diversification costs the Canadian economy tens of billions of dollars per year, resulting from the WCS oil price discount compared to the WTI benchmark price.

The oil and gas sector is an oversized contributor to the Canadian economy, accounting for about 25% of its exports, 900,000 jobs, and tens of billions of dollars in government revenues annually. Canada sells its oil and gas to help pay for its imported goods and services. The sector also helps fund Canadian social programs such as healthcare and education, and is a significant contributor to our communities at large through various donations and other supports.

5th – Natural Gas

Canada is also a top producer and exporter of another critical energy source, natural gas ^[4]. Alberta is the largest gas producer in Canada, but British Columbia has continued to increase its production to meet growing demand. The two provinces account for almost all of Canada’s gas production, with Saskatchewan contributing a minuscule amount of its own ^[6].

With the world’s ninth-largest natural gas reserves ^[5] and as the fifth-largest producer and sixth-largest exporter ^[4], Canada has immense potential to do more to meet the growing natural gas needs of domestic and international markets. Whether it be providing more gas to Canadians and the United States, or exporting it from liquefaction facilities off the western and eastern coasts, our country has the reserve capacity to do all of the above.

Less than half, about 44%, of Canadian natural gas production is exported, currently about 99% of which goes to the United States ^[4]. As a result, Canadian gas is sold at a discount, which is said to cost our economy several billion dollars every year in lost revenues and economic activity ^[7].

Canada’s nascent LNG sector could bring about immense economic benefits for our country. According to Boston Consulting Group, Canada’s four current LNG projects could generate over $250 billion in investments, employ 50,000 Canadians, and generate $50 billion in public funds over their lifetime.

6th – Nuclear Power

Canada is the world’s sixth-largest producer of nuclear power, accounting for approximately 3% of global nuclear generation (2022) ^[4]. Nuclear energy provides about 13% of Canada’s total electricity needs, as well as 52% of Ontario’s power supply, our country’s largest province by population.

Canada is also home to the world’s third-largest uranium reserves and is the second-largest producer and exporter of the nuclear fuel. Saskatchewan is Canada’s uranium mining hotspot; McArthur River and Cigar Lake are two of the largest mines in the world and produce some of the highest grade of uranium on the planet, anywhere from 10 to 100 times more concentrated than the global average!

Canada currently has 19 operating nuclear reactors located in Ontario and New Brunswick. Proposals for three new facilities are also underway in Alberta, New Brunswick and Ontario. Canada is also the first to build small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) at the Darlington facility in Ontario. The first of four SMRs is expected to begin operations by the end of 2030, generating enough electricity to power roughly 300,000 homes ^[10]. Canada is also exploring use of SMRs in major industry like the oil and gas sector.

6th – Renewables

Many Canadians are surprised to hear that our country is the world’s sixth-largest producer of renewable energy (2022) ^[4] – you might not believe it, given the unbalanced conversations pushed by anti-Canadian energy activists. Today, Canada obtains approximately 16.8% of its total energy supply from renewable sources, compared to 12.2% for OECD countries and 14% globally ^[4].

Hydro accounts for the lion’s share of Canadian renewable energy production, at 67.7% in 2022 ^[4]. Solid biofuels account for 21.5%, wind at 6.4%, fuel ethanol 1.7%, solar photovoltaic 1.2%, municipal waste/landfill gas 0.9%, biodiesel 0.5%, and solar thermal 0.1% ^[4].

Canada is also increasing its renewable energy generation capacity, with wind and solar seeing significant growth over the past several years. Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity in Canada, accounting for 5.7% of Canadian power generation in 2022 ^[4]. Solar is also seeing significant growth in Canada, with 6.6x more capacity than in 2012 ^[4]

7th – Electricity

Canada is a global leader in electricity production, a secondary form of energy, which correlates closely with wealth creation ^[8]. It provides the power needed for manufacturing, transportation, and communication, essential components of any first-world economy.

Canada is also the world’s second-largest electricity exporter, accounting for 8% of global power exports. With around 82% of Canadian electricity production coming from renewables and nuclear, our country’s exports to the United States help displace other forms of power generation, supplying New York, Maine, New England, Washington, and California ^[9].

Compared to some of the world’s largest countries, Canada gets a much higher share of its electricity supply from nuclear and renewables. Our electricity mix includes hydro (61.6%), nuclear (12.9%), wind (5.7%), biomass (1.4%), natural gas (12.6%), petroleum (1%), solar (0.9%), coal (3.8%), and other, like geothermal and tidal (0.1%).

With growing electricity demand across Canada and the United States, our country has an immense opportunity to build even more nuclear plants, hydro dams, and other infrastructure like power transmission lines to help supplement the growing energy needs of North America.

9th – Wind Power

Canada is home to the world’s ninth-largest onshore wind power capacity (2022). Wind power has seen significant growth in our country, with capacity more than tripling and generation nearly quadrupling since 2011 ^[4]. With a capacity of 16.2 gigawatts (GW) of wind power, Canada can power more than 3.4 million homes nationwide.

The largest provincial producers of wind energy are Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta. Eleven of 13 provinces and territories rely on wind to generate electricity, with Prince Edward Island (96.8%) and Nova Scotia (13.9%) leading the country in power from wind as a share of their total supply.

Canada is a Top Global Energy Exporter

Apart from being one of the world’s top energy producers, Canada is also a top exporter, contributing significantly to our country’s wealth and overall standard of living. In 2023, for example, Canadian energy exports totalled $199.1 billion, representing 28% of our total merchandise goods exports. Oil and gas accounted for the lion’s share of that figure, at $177 billion, 95% of which was sent to the U.S.

Today, Canada exports energy to 123 countries, although our capacity is limited to other international markets apart from our southern neighbour. To secure our economic independence, Canada must find ways to increase our ability to get energy to new markets across Asia, Europe, and elsewhere abroad.

It’s time to build new pipelines, powerlines, ports, railways, and roads to secure our energy and economic independence and ensure a strong and prosperous future for our families.

The World Needs More Canadian Energy

Energy plays a significant role in our daily lives. As a vast, cold nation that relies on energy to live and exports to thrive, we must consider the importance of the energy sector to our country from coast to coast.

Canadians don’t have to choose between supporting oil and gas or renewables – we can do all of the above for a stronger, more united Canada. Join us on social media to learn more about the importance of Canada’s energy sector to everyday Canadians and our trade partners around the world!

It’s time to make Canada stronger!

Order your free stickers https://t.co/xmYZgouU7Y pic.twitter.com/NP85bgtPLL

— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) May 20, 2025

SOURCES:

_{1 - https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles-canada.html}

_{2 - https://waterpowercanada.ca/}

_{3 - https://natural-resources.canada.ca/sites/nrcan/files/energy/energy-resources/5_things_you_need_to_know_about_hydropower.pdf#:~:text=Able%20to%20satisfy%20most%20of%20its%20own,majority%20of%20Canada%27s%20exports%20come%20from%20hydropower.}

_{4 - https://energy-information.canada.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/energy-factbook-2024-2025.pdf}

_{5 - https://financialpost.com/commodities/energy/oil-gas/alberta-major-revision-oil-gas-reserve-estimates}

_{6 - https://www.capp.ca/en/oil-natural-gas-you/oil-natural-gas-canada/natural-gas/}

_{7 - https://fcpp.org/2025/05/01/canada-is-losing-billions-by-underselling-oil-and-its-hurting-us-all/}

_{8 - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421500000811}

_{9 - https://www.npr.org/2025/03/12/nx-s1-5325859/canadas-threat-to-hike-electricity-prices-highlights-u-s-reliance-on-imported-power}

_{10 - https://www.opg.com/story/opg-ready-to-begin-building-north-americas-first-small-modular-reactor/}