The National Post reports in its Friday, Dec. 5, edition that Prime Minister Mark Carney aims to establish a new export route to the West Coast through the federal government's energy deal with Alberta. The Post's Tracy Moran writes that some analysts say boosting oil exports to Asia could give the federal government more sway in future trade negotiations with the White House, even if it is tough to quantify. Macdonald-Laurier Institute's Heather Exner-Pirot says: "If I were the United States, I'd have a little bit of fear of missing out and that would incentivize me to negotiate. But how they calculate things in the White House these days seems to be beyond my understanding." Still, she says on economic terms alone, it would give Canada options, which means "buyers in the U.S. will have to compete with buyers in Asia, so we will get a top dollar for our oil." University of Calgary School of Public Policy director Martha Hall Findlay agrees, saying more energy export options should strengthen Canada-U.S. trade relations. Washington-based Heritage Foundation policy analyst Andrew Hale says a pipeline to the West Coast could be a game-changer for Canada-U.S. relations.