Mark Carney announced a C$56bn fast-track investment package focused largely on resource projects, including a C$6bn, 280-mile power line in north-west British Columbia, an LNG project, several mines and a large conservation corridor. The program aims to boost competitiveness and diversify markets beyond the United States, but it omits new oil pipelines and other controversial mega-works. Critics, including U of T professor Shoshanna Saxe, say the plan sidelines everyday infrastructure — water systems, bridges, transit and housing — that could deliver faster, more widely felt benefits. Many argue Ottawa should balance resource investments with scalable, “light” infrastructure that would transform daily life.
Carney’s 'Nation-Building' Plan Bets on Resources — Lacks a Truly Transformative Vision for Canada
Mark Carney announced a C$56bn fast-track investment package focused largely on resource projects, including a C$6bn, 280-mile power line in north-west British Columbia, an LNG project, several mines and a large conservation corridor. The program aims to boost competitiveness and diversify markets beyond the United States, but it omits new oil pipelines and other controversial mega-works. Critics, including U of T professor Shoshanna Saxe, say the plan sidelines everyday infrastructure — water systems, bridges, transit and housing — that could deliver faster, more widely felt benefits. Many argue Ottawa should balance resource investments with scalable, “light” infrastructure that would transform daily life.
01:43 AM, 11/15/2025Economy
Carney’s nation-building push leans on resource projects but leaves everyday infrastructure behind
Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, often evokes a bygone era when “we used to build big things in this country, and we used to build them quickly.” That memory has shaped his narrative as an economist-turned-politician and underpins his government’s new multibillion-dollar investment agenda.
On Thursday Mr. Carney unveiled more than C$56 billion (US$40 billion) in fast-tracked projects the government says will boost Canada’s competitiveness. Officials presented these initiatives as “transformational” steps that will help the country reach its “full potential as an energy superpower” and diversify export markets beyond the United States.
The announcement was made in Terrace, British Columbia, at the proposed site of a C$6 billion, 280-mile power transmission line intended to unlock private investment — including a string of critical-mineral mines — in the sparsely developed north-west of the province. The government framed the measures as a hedge against trade risks posed by tensions with the United States and as a way to accelerate economic activity before a 2030 deadline for many of the projects.
What’s included
- C$6bn, 280-mile power line in north-west British Columbia
- BC LNG project for natural-gas exports
- Nickel development in Ontario
- Mine in New Brunswick
- Graphite battery facility in Quebec
- Hydroelectric project in Iqaluit
- Conservation corridor linking north-west BC and the Yukon — roughly the size of Greece
Earlier in September the government had announced an initial group of five projects focused on critical minerals and natural gas. Notably absent from the new list are any new oil pipeline proposals, which remain politically divisive. Also omitted was a high-profile tunnel idea pitched by Ontario’s premier, Doug Ford — a concept some critics dismissed as fanciful, although Ford’s government is spending C$9 million to study the possibility.
“The signal the government is sending is that Canada is a resource economy and that we will continue to invest in being a resource economy,” said Shoshanna Saxe, a civil engineering professor at the University of Toronto. “It really signals the government’s view that Canada’s strength in the world is its ability to sell those resources.”
Saxe added that while the new projects make economic sense — especially given uncertainty in relations with the United States — they represent a continuation of traditional strengths rather than a bold reimagining of national priorities. She urged that Ottawa consider faster, high-impact investments in everyday infrastructure that would affect Canadians more directly.
What’s missing: everyday infrastructure and faster wins
Critics point to a sizeable infrastructure deficit in areas such as water systems, bridges, public transit and housing. Saxe argues there are scalable, lower-cost projects — what she calls "light infrastructure" — that the federal government could pursue quickly and at national scale, producing tangible improvements to citizens' daily lives.
The debate highlights a broader choice for the government: continue doubling down on resource-led growth, or use the moment to fund projects that reshape how Canadians live, travel and work. For now, the federal plan emphasizes resource-sector investments while leaving many to wonder what a truly transformative, inclusive national agenda might look like.