Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the committee members for inviting me today to speak to you, along with my colleagues from Saskatchewan and Ontario, about Line 5.
This is a critical issue not only for Alberta but for all of Canada. To start with, I'm encouraged by the discussions that have been taking place in this committee here. I would like to acknowledge Minister O'Regan for the strong message that he delivered to the committee a few weeks ago that the continued operation of Line 5 is absolutely non-negotiable. On that, Alberta and the federal government agree.
I'm here today as Alberta's energy minister, a position I've served in since 2019, but I'm also very proud of my extensive experience in Alberta's oil and gas pipeline industry for 13 years. From both of these roles, I can attest to the fact that Canada's energy sector is resilient and innovative, and drives our economy. When it comes to responsible production and transportation of our natural resources, Canadians are more aligned than they are divided, and they've clearly seen this evident in this committee here.
As we continue to manage the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more important now than ever that Alberta and the other provinces and other governments across Canada and the U.S. work together to support a robust, sustained North American economic recovery, and that has to include oil and gas.
Alberta's energy sector supports jobs on both sides of the border and plays a vital role in maintaining a reliable North American energy system. Our integrated Canadian energy industry has a long history of developing and implementing technology, having world-leading regulatory and environmental standards, and being a stable supplier to the United States. Enbridge's Line 5 in Michigan is an excellent example of that integrated system. Connecting the Enbridge main line at Superior, Wisconsin, Line 5 is a long-standing route to move Alberta light crude and natural gas liquids to refineries in Sarnia, and supplies home heating for thousands of families in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A shutdown would have a devastating impact on these families.
My colleagues here today, I'm sure, are going to agree that the impacts of a shutdown would be devastating for their provinces. I can tell you it certainly would devastate Alberta. A shutdown would create a bottleneck in the Midwest, negatively impacting oil prices. It would limit the flow of up to 400,000 barrels a day of Alberta oil that would have to find alternate routes. Interrupted operation of the pipeline would also impact Alberta propane producers as Michigan would have to source a more expensive, alternate supply for propane from the U.S. gulf coast or through trucking and rail from Canada.
What is possibly most concerning to Alberta, as it should be for everyone here, is the dangerous precedent that a shutdown of a safely operating pipeline would pose for future infrastructure projects. In this regard, we would strongly encourage the federal government to protect Canada's interests by invoking rights under the 1977 transit pipeline treaty. Alberta will stand firmly behind Canada in using that treaty, and we encourage Canada to take a very strong position in the upcoming Line 5 legal proceedings by way of a Canadian amicus brief.
The U.S. states are by far Alberta's largest trading partner, and Alberta and Michigan enjoy a robust trading relationship that includes energy and plastics, wood, and machinery and agricultural products. Alberta and Michigan have a strong, healthy bilateral trade relationship worth as much as $9 billion annually in recent years. Trade in Alberta supports upwards of 45,000 Michigan jobs. That's part of the quarter of a million jobs in the state that are supported by Canada overall.
Michigan, the Michigan peninsula, Pennsylvania and Ohio are key suppliers of equipment, goods and services to the Alberta oil sands. We are good neighbours and strong business partners. Our integrated energy sector and critical trading relationships are important for jobs and economies on both sides of the border, and any actions to shut down Line 5 would threaten that relationship.
This is a fully regulated, fully maintained pipeline that will only be improved in years to come to ensure the ongoing safety of its operations. I believe that a reasonably sensible solution needs to be found to end this dispute.
Thank you, Chair and committee members, for your time. I look forward to your questions.