The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, Oct. 25, edition that it is vital for Canada to build oil export pipelines to the coasts of British Columbia and Atlantic Canada. The Globe's guests columnist Patricia Mohr writes that many Canadians are unaware of how important this is to our economy. Canada owes its economic prosperity to trade and crude oil dominates. In 2014, before the oil-price downturn, oil generated a $70-billion trade surplus, far outstripping any other export category, and virtually covered large, chronic deficits in autos and auto parts, machinery and equipment and electronics. Even at the bottom of the oil price correction early this year, crude remains the largest positive contributor to Canada's merchandise trade, contributing more than $30-billion annualized in net export revenue as of August. Canada's trade performance shifted from surplus to deficit in 2015 and is currently minus-$23.3-billion, with the impact of the oil-price decline not nearly offset by an advance in non-oil exports. Strong oil export revenue has much to do with the ability of governments to fund social services across Canada. Western Canada's forte is heavy oil.