This week’s web-poll of CEOs and business leaders explores why there is a growing conviction about Canada’s becoming a world petroleum power and how this ought to impact on Ottawa’s relations with the U.S., China, and Alberta.

Canada’s business leaders and CEOs foresee the average price of an oil barrel rising to $66 over the next 5 years and to $79 over the next 10 years. They believe that Canada’s promising future as a petroleum exporter is made possible by high oil prices, turmoil in the Islamic world, and our country’s proximity to the U.S.

Business leaders anticipate that Alberta will become an even wealthier province, there will be increasing conflict between Alberta and central Canada, and some large financial institutions may relocate to Calgary.

The overwhelming majority of respondents favour the U.S. over China in any competition between these two countries for a position in the Canadian oil sector.

These are some of the key findings from this week’s web-poll of business leaders and CEOs, sponsored by BDO Dunwoody LLP and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

View / Download complete poll in PDF