Carney pledges faster project reviews to make Canada ‘energy superpower’

A Re-Elected Liberal Government’s Plan to Expedite Resource Project Approvals

Liberal Leader Mark Carney has unveiled a bold plan to drastically reduce the timeline for reviewing major resource projects if his party is re-elected. The goal is to position Canada as an “energy superpower” in both clean energy and oil and gas sectors. This initiative comes in response to the challenges posed by U.S. tariff policies and the need to strengthen Canada’s industrial economy and foreign trade opportunities.

Carney made the announcement at an ironworkers’ union office in Calgary, emphasizing the urgency of accelerating the development of resource projects. He aims to establish a Major Federal Project Office that will be tasked with making decisions on projects within a two-year timeframe, as opposed to the current five-year process. Additionally, Carney plans to streamline various government processes into a centralized “single window” system to expedite approvals.

This commitment mirrors former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s vision of Canada as an “emerging energy superpower” back in 2006, particularly during the rapid expansion of the oilsands. The Liberal leader’s proposal builds on the Trudeau government’s previous pledge to complete evaluations of federally designated projects within five years.

Notably, Carney’s plan faces competition from the Conservatives, who recently introduced a Rapid Resource Project Office promising even faster approval timelines – a maximum of one year, with a target of six months. Both parties are responding to the growing concerns over the impact of delays in resource development amidst geopolitical uncertainties.

While the push for expedited reviews is seen as crucial in light of external threats to Canada’s sovereignty and economy, experts like Martin Olszynski caution against compromising environmental standards in the process. Olszynski, an expert in energy, resources, and sustainability at the University of Calgary, highlights the need to balance speed with thoroughness to avoid shortcuts that could have long-term consequences.

Carney has affirmed his intention to retain the controversial Impact Assessment Act, which has faced criticism from the Alberta government and the petroleum sector. In contrast, the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, have pledged to repeal this act along with other Trudeau-era policies, aligning with the demands of major oil and gas CEOs who have voiced their concerns.

Despite maintaining the Impact Assessment Act, Carney plans to enhance collaboration with provinces and Indigenous governments to expedite project approvals through substitution agreements. This approach aims to streamline the assessment process while upholding Indigenous rights and environmental standards.

Furthermore, Carney’s vision includes the creation of “energy corridors” for projects of national interest and support for the critical minerals sector essential for clean technologies. He has proposed a “first and last mile fund” to facilitate infrastructure development for resource mines, emphasizing the importance of sustainable energy solutions for long-term market dominance.

As the election campaign unfolds, the debate over energy policies intensifies, with Poilievre cautioning voters against trusting the Liberals based on past performance. He criticizes the perceived delays and setbacks faced by the energy sector under Trudeau’s administration, warning of potential adverse outcomes if the same policies persist.

With the election approaching, the competing visions of the Liberals and Conservatives for Canada’s resource development sector underscore the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship and Indigenous rights.