Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver. (SIMON CLARK/QMI Agency)

OTTAWA — Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver is on the mend at home after heart bypass surgery earlier this month.

The Toronto MP underwent the procedure Jan. 3 at St. Michael's Hospital after a routine exam discovered a blockage.

His recovery is expected to take about six weeks and Oliver plans to return to the House of Commons in mid-February.

A spokesman said Oliver, 72, is "recovering well at home and is increasingly resuming his responsibilities."

Oliver is one of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's key officials on the energy file. He's an outspoken advocate of oilsands development and supporter of the Keystone XL pipeline that is still awaiting approval from the White House.

The finished pipeline would bring Alberta crude to Gulf Coast refineries.