A sudden, rash move by the mercurial administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, in terms of oil tariffs or the Enbridge pipeline, would be a serious source of financial concern, even for Canadians who are eager to see the country wean itself off oil production as a revenue source and hasten the transition to a clean-energy economy.

This has Canada suddenly considering its short and long-term export and transport options for an industry that will still be around for a few more decades.

That includes breathing some life into an idea that sounded fanciful mere months ago: Transporting oil across the northern Manitoba muskeg and filling tankers at a port on Hudson Bay.