Prime Minister Mark Carney and the premiers pledged at the First Ministers Meeting in Saskatoon to speed up the paperwork that often stalls Canada’s biggest infrastructure projects, such as pipelines.The new rules should shrink approvals for everything from pipelines to power corridors to roughly two years..Carney told the media that the federal government would table legislation by the summer aimed at giving regulators and cabinet the clear authority to green light proposals that serve the national interest.“Our first job is legislation,” said Carney. “Legislation to give ourselves the ability to make this a reality. But we will very quickly move into the summer to refine that list from the list we have. As more private proponents become aware of the opportunity here, we’re going to see more projects coming forward.”.Carney added that an oil pipeline aimed at Asian markets remains on the table, but argued the talks must not get stuck on a single project. “Our ambitions must be bigger and broader,” said Carney.“What we discussed today was entirely consistent with that. Big, broad ambitions consistent with having the strongest economy in the G7 and being an energy superpower.”Premier Danielle Smith said shortening timelines will draw private spending back to the sector. “I think if there’s some certainty that process is going to be successful in a reasonable period of time, a two-year window, I think that there will be a proponent that will step forward,” said Smith.“If government has to build another pipeline, that will demonstrate to us that we didn’t create the conditions for private investment to come to the table.”.Smith repeated her warning that nine federal policies still chill corporate appetite. “Unless we address the nine terrible policies that have damaged investor confidence, we’re not going to get the proponents coming forward with major investments,” said Smith. Smith also pointed to the Pathways Alliance carbon capture plan as proof the industry is ready to cut emissions when the rules are right. Smith called it “the grand bargain.”Premier Scott Moe has already declared any pipeline that crosses Saskatchewan’s borders “pre-approved,” although federal reviews and indigenous consultations still apply. “We support critical infrastructure because it strengthens both provincial and national security,” said Moe..The leaders agreed to streamline assessments for projects that boost autonomy, resilience, and clean growth. They promised ongoing engagement with indigenous communities and committed to measuring success by how quickly shovels hit the ground.Yet unity was not complete. Alberta pushed hardest for new pipelines, while British Columbia pressed for shovel ready electricity projects. Still, Carney said the new approvals framework would “urgently” get Canadian resources, including decarbonized oil and gas, to world markets..“There is an ability to build that energy infrastructure, that oil pipeline. The opportunity is there, the market is there in Asia,” said Carney.By the fall, Carney said Canadians should see “concrete evidence” that “red tape” is finally being cut and the economy is set to fire on all cylinders.Carney ended the press conference saying that, “Sometimes you don't know what you have until you've lost it. We're fortunate. We haven't lost anything.”“We were threatened, and the Canadian people stood up, stood up to the Americans. We know what we have, and now we're going to build on it. Taking matters absolutely in our control. We're united, we're going to build together, and we're going to build for all. We're going to build for all Canadians. That's what came out of this meeting.”
