The Decibel Pipelines, ports and rail: What’s Carney building first?
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Sep 10, 2025 Bill Curry, Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief at The Globe and Mail, unpacks the Canadian government's ambitious 32-project list under the Building Canada Act. They discuss key initiatives like a nearly finished Montreal port and a controversial pipeline, shedding light on how these reflect Prime Minister Carney's priorities. The conversation dives into trade tensions driving new pipeline proposals and the complexities of Indigenous rights in relation to resource development. Curry's insights reveal the intricate dance of politics, economy, and environmental concerns in shaping Canada's infrastructure future.
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C‑5 Creates A Political Fast‑Track Mechanism
- Bill C-5 lets cabinet designate projects to bypass or harmonize federal processes like C-69, effectively fast-tracking approvals.
- The law creates a political decision-making route rather than repealing existing environmental rules.
Timeline Varies From Immediate To Decades
- Some projects on the list are near completion and could proceed quickly after limited regulatory work.
- Others, like a new Alberta-to-Pacific pipeline, remain conceptual with major hurdles and no private proponent.
Listing Doesn’t Guarantee Federal Cash
- Listing a project under C‑5 doesn't automatically mean federal funding; sometimes the federal role is to 'get out of the way.'
- That distinction will shape political debates inside the Liberal caucus over support levels.
