MEDIA: Venezuela, Greenland, and an emboldened Trump: What should Canada do?

Media coverage this week focused on the geopolitical fallout following the arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. 

Experts from the School of Public Policy  joined the conversation to share their insights.  Martha Hall Findlay, Director, School of Public Policy, Dr. Trevor Tombe, Director, Economic and Fiscal Policy, and Dr. Robert (RJ) Johnston, Director, Energy and Natural Resources, each provided commentary on the risks and opportunities for Canada’s energy security, trade dependencies and policy. 

“We have to look after Canada’s best interests,” said Hall Findlay on CBC listen West of Centre podcast with Kathleen Petty regarding the concerns facing Canada. 

Renewed Venezuelan heavy oil flows could expose Canadian producers to price risks, according to energy expert Johnston. In a recent Policy Magazine article, he said, “Disruptions to supply or demand in a concentrated market… create price vulnerabilities.” 

Expanding Canada’s West Coast pipeline capacity and diversifying export relationships with China and the Indo-Pacific are key actions that would work to protect Canada’s heavy crude sector moving forward.

Commentary emphasized that safeguarding Canada’s interests requires balancing geopolitical realities with economic resilience and quick action.  

The recent media coverage includes: 

‘Diversity oil export markets’: Danielle Smith pushes pipelines as Trump moves on Venezuela, The Edmonton Journal (Jan. 5, 2026) 

A Revival of Venezuela’s Oil Industry Poses a Challenge for Canada, The New York Times (Jan. 5, 2026) 

Canada, Venezuela, Oil, and Geopolitics, Policy Magazine (Jan. 6, 2026) 

Venezuela, Greenland, an emboldened Trump: What should Canada do?, CBC Listen – The House with Catherin Cullen (Jan. 9, 2026) 

Venezuela fallout: ‘We have to stop being such boy scouts in Canada’, CBC News Alberta (Jan. 9, 2026)