Nearly one-third of the natural gas burned in Canada last year was used to produce oil from the oilsands, according to the National Energy Board.

TransCanada is offering the lower toll costs to help fill its underutilized Canadian Mainline natural gas pipeline system from a centre in Alberta to a hub in southern Ontario.

The Calgary-based energy transport company is inviting shippers to sign long-term binding commitments by March 9 to move gas on its underutilized Canadian Mainline system from a shipping centre in Alberta to a hub in southern Ontario.