Pipelines carrying steam to wellheads and heavy oil back to the processing plant line the roads and boreal forest at the Cenovus Energy Christina Lake Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) project 120 km south of Fort McMurray, Alta., in August, 2013.Todd Korol/Reuters

Donald Trump is vowing to use Venezuela’s oil exports to drive down oil prices in the United States in what would be a major blow to the profit margins of Alberta’s oilpatch, and the province’s coffers.

Resumed shipments of high volumes of Venezuelan heavy oil to the refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast after a near seven-year absence would oversaturate the North American market for Alberta’s own heavy oil, driving down its price relative to lighter crude oils.

Existing production from Venezuela is the immediate threat confronting Alberta and its oil producers. That threat could grow in coming years, if U.S. capital and expertise rejuvenates Venezuela’s existing infrastructure and surge even more........

© The Globe and Mail