2 June: In a striking show of unity, Canada’s premiers met with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Saskatoon to discuss a shared vision for national development and fast-tracked infrastructure investment. Ontario Premier Doug Ford hailed the meeting as the most productive in a decade, contrasting it with previous tense gatherings under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Ford emphasized the collective resolve of the premiers to stand together against the economic pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, describing a renewed national spirit even as internal disagreements, particularly over pipeline development, persisted.
Each premier arrived with ambitious proposals for energy and infrastructure projects they hope will receive federal designation as “nation-building” priorities. The meeting did not produce a finalized list of endorsed projects, but Carney emphasized that the goal was to establish clarity and momentum for major investments aimed at securing Canada’s position as a global energy leader.
“We’re building the certainty and ambition that private investors need,” said Carney, adding that the government is preparing legislation to ensure project approvals within two years — a significant shift in federal strategy. He cited potential projects such as the Grays Bay Road and Port in the Arctic, the Ring of Fire mining project in Ontario, and the Pathways Alliance oilsands initiative, but stopped short of endorsing any outright.
Premier Ford likened Carney’s role to that of Santa Claus, suggesting that while no firm decisions were made during the meeting, the groundwork had been laid for serious consideration over the summer.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who had warned beforehand that any project list excluding pipelines would be unacceptable to her province, said she left the meeting encouraged by the tone and willingness to discuss energy expansion. She praised the federal government’s openness to including decarbonized oil projects in the national interest.
“When we hear the Prime Minister talking about Canada as an energy superpower again, that marks a notable change,” said Smith. She spotlighted the Pathways Alliance — a coalition of oilsands companies proposing to use carbon capture and storage to reduce emissions — as a key candidate for support. Smith stressed that new pipeline infrastructure, potentially delivering a million barrels per day to the British Columbia coast, would be necessary to make the costly project economically viable.
While Alberta is pushing for a revival of the Northern Gateway pipeline or similar ventures, British Columbia’s Deputy Premier Niki Sharma pushed back, noting that there is currently no active proponent for such a project. Sharma emphasized support only for “shovel-ready” proposals and pointed to the underutilized Trans Mountain pipeline as a more immediate option for expanding energy exports.
Carney assured that upcoming legislation would also require robust consultation with Indigenous communities throughout the selection and development of major projects. He said the summer months would be used to refine the list of priority initiatives as more private sector proposals come forward.
Despite no binding agreements being announced, the gathering marked a turning point in federal-provincial cooperation. With Canada’s economic and energy strategy under renewed scrutiny in the face of U.S. tariffs, the leaders signaled a collective readiness to fast-track transformative infrastructure — and to reposition Canada as a competitive energy force in a shifting global economy.
