Peter Coleman is President of the National Citizens CoalitionWorking Canadians are fed up. Western Canada is fed up. After a decade of economic stagnation, bureaucratic bloat and empty promises, those who make up the very backbone of this country demand that government get out of the way.We all know what it will take for Canada to recover and to return to its former glory: aggressive fixes to immigration; shovels in the ground and red tape removed for pipelines and energy projects; fiscal discipline; and policy that keeps violent scumbags in prison, while prioritizing safety, security, and cohesion in our communities.Without it, Canada will remain mired in an economic funk, terminal decline, and this moment of temporary Liberal anti-American nationalism will pass, along with all its wasted potential. Prime Minister Mark Carney must make this agenda his own, and act decisively, or he risks further squandering a Canadian dream now a nightmare for far too many..Unfortunately, the Throne Speech, delivered by the King but crafted by the PMO, was a masterclass in dodging accountability through more of the same comforting Liberal platitudes.Carney’s reputation as a financial genius is meaningless if he can’t deliver. Vague, riddle-laden speeches are an insult to a nation crying out for clarity and action from west to east. Canada’s global reputation is crumbling — our allies see us as unreliable, and word spreads fast. Inaction is not an option when our economic credibility hangs by a thread. Carney must stop hiding behind “maybes,” and start executing.Take his campaign promise to implement interprovincial free trade by July 1. Lifted from the Conservative platform, this still-necessary pledge promises to tear down barriers that choke billions in economic potential. Yet, the Throne Speech had the audacity to propose “studying” the issue instead. Studying? Working Canadians don’t need more reports — they need results. These barriers have crippled our economy for years, and every delay is a betrayal of the slim mandate Carney was able to secure through a campaign of gaslighting and fear. He must deliver free trade by the deadline, no excuses..Worse still, Carney’s cabinet is a recycled roster of woke obstructionists who’ve spent years blocking pipelines and strangling economic growth. These are not the leaders Canada needs. Pipelines aren’t just projects; they’re arteries for our energy exports, fuelling the prosperity that pays for our schools, hospitals, and future. For a decade, we’ve endured regulatory quicksand and ideological sabotage. Carney must purge his cabinet of these roadblocks and set ironclad deadlines for project approvals. Anything less should be seen as the deliberate continuation of the Trudeau decade.On the world stage, it’s delusional to think Canada can cut ties with the United States and magically redirect the majority of our exports to Europe or Asia. The US takes over 75% of our goods — good luck replacing that overnight. Carney’s team must stop fantasizing and start strengthening our trade ties with pragmatic, results-driven policies..This path to recovery and prosperity is clear: slash red tape, cut taxes, and unleash the private sector to drive growth. Canadians are done with talk, and Carney — self-styled as the “smartest guy in the room” — must prove he’s more than a Liberal-media darling. His predecessors gave us a decade of hot air; we won’t tolerate another minute of it. Groups like the NCC will be watching, and holding this government’s feet to the fire. Carney must deliver measurable outcomes — fast — or face the consequences. When millions of Canadians need immediate relief on files like immigration, housing, employment, energy, and crime and chaos — each made exponentially worse by this same Liberal government — Trudeau’s former economic adviser doesn’t deserve a single day’s grace period.Canada’s continued economic malaise isn’t inevitable, but it will persist without bold, immediate action. Carney has the chance to lead by following the common-sense agenda he stole from across the aisle: immediate immigration fixes, fiscal responsibility, and a plethora of no-brainer, prosperity-creating policies. Deliver, now, or step aside for those who are ready to lead.Peter Coleman is the President of the National Citizens Coalition.
