The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that Canada owes its economic prosperity to trade and crude oil exports. Guest columnist Patricia Mohr writes that in 2014, oil generated a $70-billion trade surplus, far outstripping any other export category. The former Scotiabank commodities guru writes at 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 a pickup in non-oil exports. There is little doubt that refineries in China and India would welcome Canadian crude. Tanker costs in an Aframax vessel from Vancouver to Asian markets can be less than $4 (U.S.) a barrel, and in a very large crude carrier from Saint John, N.B., the Atlantic terminus for the proposed Energy East Pipeline, they have been a mere $1 (U.S.) a barrel to Europe and $3 (U.S.) to India. Canada's oil reserves are the third largest in the world. This is a huge source of national wealth.