Not many people realize that most of America’s imported oil comes from Canada, and the majority of that from the oil sands of Alberta. While the Canadian press provides fairly comprehensive coverage of this key oil source, it’s not a topic that comes up often in the American media.

So it came as a bit of a surprise to me that The Daily Show sent Wyatt Cenac to Alberta to do a segment on Canadian oil production:

Some might question the fact that the piece completely ignores the environmental and climate impact of oil sands production. In fact, it’s really just a vehicle for making fun of Canadians’ easygoing demeanor and enthusiasm for hockey (perhaps the lowest-hanging fruit you’ll find in the comedy world).

But it’s also worth a reminder – The Daily Show is a comedy program, not a news source.

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

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