This week’s announcement that LNG Canada Phase 2, the Darlington small modular reactor, and focus on delivering critical minerals, have all been recommended to the Major Project Office for fast-track consideration, is an excellent step in the right direction. It’s a clear sign our federal government is backing Canadian energy.
Speaking at the announcement for major infrastructure developments, Prime Minister Mark Carney threw his weight behind a list of five nation-building projects – all in the national interest and a boon to Canadians across the country. In his own words: “We used to build big things in this country, and we used to build them quickly. It’s time to get back at it, and get on with it.”
Major projects that connect our country have been a cornerstone of Canada’s history, starting with the Canadian National Railway (CNR). Its construction connected resource-rich regions like Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Sudbury to coastal ports in Vancouver, Halifax, and Montreal. Along its path, the CNR supported growth and trade in cities like Winnipeg, Sudbury, and even Hay River.
At some point, we lost our way. We built complicated, overlapping processes and requirements for project approvals. And you’re right, Prime Minister Carney: turning the tides and bringing back investor confidence “starts with getting out of the way.” Announcements like LNG Canada Phase 2 are an outstanding start.
Society widely acknowledges that energy demand will rise due to factors like artificial intelligence, technological advancement, alleviating energy poverty, and improving energy security. Our challenge is agreeing on what energy sources we use today and how we use them to get us to tomorrow – to a place where lower-carbon energy is reliable, affordable, and plentiful enough to meet our growing needs.
Achieving this will require considerable collaboration among energy producers and providers around the world. It also requires a transition at home: from focusing solely on regional or national needs to understanding our role within the broader global context of energy demand and systems. And this begins with all regions in Canada having a clear understanding of energy systems and how they work. A foundational of awareness of all our needs with the focus on what is best for our country and the world.
By undertaking nation-building projects here, we can go beyond our own borders to provide resources and expertise to the world. Not only is Canada an energy juggernaut, it is a world-leader in innovative clean technology and has some of the strongest and most effective production regulations on the planet.
Key to unlocking our potential is sending the right message to investors, innovators, and thought leaders. We are not only open for business but are also open to sharing ideas and different approaches to the global energy challenge we all face. Only together, as a single global energy ecosystem, can we bridge the gap and find long-term solutions.
This is our moment. Projects like LNG Canada Phase 1 and 2 aren’t just infrastructure investments – they’re proof that Canada can deliver some of the cleanest energy on Earth. We have a plethora of world-class energy projects waiting in the wings, shovel-ready and primed for action. The only thing standing between potential and reality is willingness to move decisively.
The world is watching. It’s time to show them, and ourselves, that Canada doesn’t just talk about nation-building, we deliver it. It is time for Canada to once again step forward and fulfill its role on the global stage reclaiming our place as the country that gets things done and builds the future.
