VANDERBURGH CO., IN (WFIE) -
You may not know it, but Canada is Indiana's biggest trade partner.
The jobs of 160,000 Hoosiers depend on Canada.
The Canadian Consul General visited Evansville today to talk about the potential for thousands more.
You may not know it, but about 7,000 Vanderburgh County residents have jobs that rely on Canada.
Consul General Roy Norton said, "It's an excellent trade relationship that just kind of proceeds under the radar. Business gets done, but it's huge...you export more to Canada than you do to your next seven global destinations put together."
Canada's Consul General Roy Norton was in town Friday morning to discuss the potential of thousands more jobs.
"Talked a lot about the opportunity in the energy sector and in particular the Keystone XL Pipeline," said Matt Meadors, CEO Chamber Commerce Southwest, IN.
If the federal government approves the Keystone Pipeline, Consul Norton says the construction of the pipeline could bring potentially 7,000 jobs to Indiana.
Norton said, "For everything from steel to pipe fitters and...you're the USA's biggest steel producer, one would have to think there's potential in that sector."
Of course, right now that's a big if.
Norton says the pipeline company has submitted a new plan. After the Obama administration rejected the previous proposal.
"That should be processed one way of the other by early 2013," said Norton.
But as some business advocates will tell you, the potential is there.
Norton said, "There's a lot of opportunity between Canada and the U.S. And Canada and Indiana."
And in case you're wondering, the biggest single area of trade between Canada and Indiana is vehicle parts.
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