EDMONTON — The future is positive -- and lucrative -- for Canada’s oilsands.

That according to United States Senator John Hoeven, who spent all day Tuesday touring two oilsands developments in Alberta with the province’s deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk.

“I think the energy future of the United States is very much entwined with what you’re doing here in Canada and with what you’re doing in Alberta,” Hoeven said shortly after flying into Edmonton from Fort McMurray.

The Republican senator from North Dakota has been a vocal supporter of the Keystone XL pipeline in the past and continues to bring legislation to the senate in favour of the project, despite it being turned down earlier in the year.

“We need to build our energy future together. We can be energy secure in the United States working with Canada,” he said, suggesting this energy security can be done within the next five to seven years.

He said environmental stewardship is an important element to pipeline development but also mentioned the boon a freer flow of oil between the U.S. and Canada could bring.

“Hundreds of billions of dollars in the United States and Canada is ready and willing to go into energy development if we create the kind of climate that empowers them to do it,” Hoeven said, adding provinces and states are leading the way toward this climate and federal governments have to follow.

South of the border, the federal government has not been entirely receptive the Keystone proposal.

According to David Sands, spokesman for the Alberta government’s international and intergovernmental relations branch, President Barack Obama has been invited to view the oilsands himself but has not indicated if he will.

Sands said the next delegation to visit the energy region will be later this month when a pair of democratic politicians are slated to take a tour.