Carney has 'nation-building projects' on his mind as he meets with premiers in Saskatoon
Prime minister says he wants projects to ‘compete’ for federal approvals
Prime Minister Mark Carney's main focus will be on project development as he sits down with provincial and territorial premiers on Monday.
First ministers are gathering in Saskatoon for the first time since the April 28 federal election.
Carney told CBC's Power & Politics in an exclusive interview earlier this week that "major projects" will be his main agenda item for the upcoming meeting with premiers.
"We need to move on these nation-building projects. So projects that bring Canada together, projects that diversify our economy, projects that help us export to new markets and really move this economy forward," Carney told host David Cochrane.
"The ask of provinces, the ask of the private sector is: Which projects do you have that reach those criteria? What we're going to do is fast-track the approval, truly fast-track the approval, of those projects."
Project approval was a significant part of Tuesday's throne speech read by King Charles. The speech promised to "unleash a new era of growth" by creating a federal project review office and reducing regulatory reviews "from five years to two."
The Liberals are aiming to introduce legislation this month that would introduce "up-front regulatory approvals" to major projects in the national interest, according to a federal document CBC News obtained.
Premiers pitch their project ideas
A number of provinces and territories have already begun floating ideas for major economic projects that they'd like to see happen.
N.W.T. Premier R.J. Simpson said his region has "not had the same type of investment in infrastructure that the rest of Canada has seen" during an interview on Rosemary Barton Live that aired Sunday.
Simpson said his territory and Nunavut are pursuing a road through the Slave Geological Province, which would connect western Nunavut and an area in the Northwest Territories believed to be rich in minerals.
"That's a project that's been talked about for generations, for decades, [but] hasn't advanced yet. So that is one I'm really excited about," Simpson told host Rosemary Barton.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said on Rosemary Barton Live he hopes discussions begin "on what a regulatory process would be moving forward that would provide certainty for the investment into industries that are creating value and provide us as Canadians with that opportunity to become the strongest economy in the G7."
"In the meantime, if we have to prioritize projects, that is what it is, but that in itself is an admission that the current regulatory processes need changes and I think that is the broader goal that I would have coming out of this tomorrow and over the next couple of months," he said.
Speaking later Sunday at a news conference, Moe said Canada has a "generational opportunity" to strengthen the economy if regulatory processes change.
"We have ... I would say the largest single opportunity that I've seen in my lifetime in this nation lying before us. All we need to do is come together, put together certainty with respect to the regulatory package and stand side by side and defend the opportunities that we have in this nation," he said.
Western premiers met last month to discuss a range of issues that included energy, Arctic security and economic corridors.
Specifically, the premiers called for Carney's "full support for the development of an economic corridor connecting ports on the northwest coast and Hudson's Bay."
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew wrote to Carney shortly after the election, voicing his support for a similar economic corridor that includes Manitoba's Port of Churchill. He said such a corridor could help western provinces get resources to international markets.
"If we sit around talking about politics, it's going to be like the family dinner table. We're always going to be arguing. But if we get down to work and we choose some economic projects to build the country — that's how we bring people together," Kinew said in a separate interview on Power & Politics earlier in the week.
"When we get together for our formal first ministers' meeting with the prime minister, I think you're going to see a unity of purpose."
Like Kinew, Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote to Carney laying out his ideas for major projects that he would like to see developed, including critical mineral deposits in Ontario's Ring of Fire. Moe also sent a list of priorities to the prime minister that included the expansion of pipeline projects.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith sent a letter to Carney in mid-May and said the prime minister has "the opportunity to address serious issues plaguing Canada's economic well-being — and the very real sense of alienation felt across the west."
Smith said there are several preconditions necessary to make Carney's nation-building ambitions a success: Include an oil pipeline on the initial list of nation-building projects, abandon the "unconstitutional" oil and gas emissions cap, overhaul the Impact Assessment Act and repeal Canada's industrial carbon tax as well as clean electricity regulations.
The Alberta premier also said she's appointed a provincial negotiating team and called on Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby to do the same.
"A collaborative approach between the relevant federal departments and the Governments of Alberta and British Columbia that enables a common understanding of project economics, barriers and opportunities will be critical to reaching a positive outcome," Smith said.
Ford appears to be backing up his counterparts in Saskatchewan and Alberta, saying at a press conference on Sunday that he's told Carney that regulations need to change in order to support the western provinces.
"I think this prime minister is really sending out olive branches across the country. He understands the previous prime minister totally ignored Alberta, totally ignored Saskatchewan. That's unacceptable," Ford said.
Carney told Power & Politics that he's seeking to have projects compete for federal approval, with the best ideas winning out.
"In effect, we're going to have a competition with projects. Some projects are good ideas, but they're not ready. Others are ready, but they're bad ideas," he said.
Removing internal trade barriers
Carney had previously met with the premiers in March to talk about removing interprovincial trade barriers in light of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war.
The prime minister has committed to removing federal barriers to internal trade by Canada Day — and the topic will likely be discussed as the leaders gather again in Saskatoon.
Moe and Ford met Sunday to sign an agreement to start lifting trade barriers between the two provinces.
Ford characterized the deal, in part, as a way to insulate the economy against Trump, who announced on Friday that he'd be upping tariffs on steel and aluminum.
"At a time when President Trump is taking direct aim at our economy — and make no mistake about it, he wants to annihilate our economy, no matter if it's manufacturing in Ontario, or any other jurisdiction that he can get his hands on, bring it down to the U.S. — and we're going to fight like we've never fought before, not just to protect Ontario but to protect the rest of our country," he said.
Ford said he hoped to have agreements with more provinces in place after Monday's meeting.
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With files from Benjamin Lopez Steven