Working together at Tinker AFB

Since 1979, Canadian Armed Forces personnel have been stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City in support of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). As partners in NORAD, the only bi-national command of its kind in the world, the U.S. and Canada work side-by-side to carry out aerospace warning and control, as well as maritime warning, for the defense of North America.

The Canadian Detachment at Tinker includes more than 40 members who work as part of the U.S. Air Force 552^nd Air Control Wing (ACW) to operate a fleet of E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. These aircraft deploy as “eyes in the sky” in missions around the world. The Canadian Detachment has participated in every major deployment of the 552^nd ACW.

TransAlta and Meta launch wind project

In 2022, the Canadian-owned TransAlta Corporation entered into a long-term renewable energy purchase agreement with Meta for the offtake of 100% of the generation from its 200 MW Horizon Hill Wind Power Project, located in Logan County. The agreement will deliver renewable electricity to Meta while supporting its sustainable energy goals.

“Since 2020, Meta has supported its global operations with 100 percent wind and solar energy. As our footprint grows, it’s key that we find strong partners who can help us continue to meet that goal by bringing new renewable energy to the grid,” said Urvi Parekh, head of renewable energy at Meta. “We are excited to partner with TransAlta.”

Coreslab lays strong foundations in Oklahoma

Headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario, Coreslab Structures Inc. makes both structural and architectural precast concrete products in plants located throughout the southern U.S. The company operates a plant in Tulsa certified by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) that produces high-quality bridge members and structural commercial products. The company has also invested in developing its Oklahoma City location into a state-of-the-art batch plant that allows Coreslab to batch more cubic yards of concrete per minute than any other facility in Oklahoma. Coreslab has built dozens of structures that serve as storm shelters in the state, including two shelters built at a high school in Moore, which was hit in 2013 by an EF5 tornado. It’s another example of Canadian investment supporting resilient infrastructure and Oklahoma’s economy.

Oklahoma exports $1.7 billion in goods to Canada annually
Oklahoma exports to Canada by industry

• Chemicals: 9%
• Energy: 6%
• Equipment & machinery: 47%
• Minerals & metals: 12%
• Plastics & rubbers: 5%
• Transportation: 16%
• Other: 5%

Top Oklahoma goods exports to Canada

• Heating, cooling & refrigeration equipment: $287 million
• Iron & steel tubes, pipes & sheets: $81 million
• Compressors & pumps: $70 million
• Aircraft & parts: $68 million
• Fuel oil: $68 million
• Fertilizers: $64 million
• Plastics & plastic articles: $54 million
• Pearls, gems, precious metals & jewelry: $46 million
• Optical, medical & precision instruments: $39 million
• Rubber & rubber articles: $33 million

Oklahoma exports $405 million in services to Canada annually
Top Oklahoma services exports to Canada

• Travel (including for education): $218 million
• Business services: $62 million
• Transport: $44 million
• Financial services: $29 million
• Charges for the use of intellectual property: $22 million

Oklahoma imports $7.8 billion in goods from Canada annually
Oklahoma imports from Canada by industry

• Energy: 80%
• Equipment & machinery: 11%
• Other: 9%

Top Oklahoma goods imports from Canada

• Crude petroleum: $6.2 billion
• Engines & turbines: $476 million
• Plastics & plastic articles: $74 million
• Iron & steel tubes, pipes & sheets: $44 million
• Wood pulp: $39 million
• Hoists, derricks & lifting equipment: $38 million
• Optical, medical & precision instruments: $38 million
• Pearls, gems, precious metals & jewelry: $35 million
• Electric motors & generators: $35 million
• Compressors & pumps: $34 million