As some Canadian families prepare for back to school, Ottawa is also preparing for a reset. Parliament will return on September 15, and both government and opposition are expected to put forward significant policy moves.
Among the stories to watch is the new federal project list, which has been promised to streamline approvals and bring clarity to major infrastructure planning. This week, Mark Carney suggested that port expansions could be the first projects to move ahead. The list could help address long-standing delays and uncertainty in energy and infrastructure investment, with implications for both costs, sovereignty and competitiveness.
Also returning to Ottawa in September will be Pierre Poilievre, who re-enters the House of Commons after winning an August 18 by-election. His return ends a period without an opposition leader seated in Parliament, adding debate and another perspective at a time when households and businesses are concerned about affordability and energy security.
Poilievre has pledged to introduce the Canadian Sovereignty Act in the coming months, though no written bill or timetable has been released. The Act is a Conservative proposal to give provinces more control over energy and trade policy. Early reports suggest it could repeal federal environmental approvals, lift restrictions on pipelines and roll back industrial carbon pricing—all moves aiming to shift greater authority to provinces on energy and trade policy.
If it moves ahead, this legislation could accelerate momentum around provincial energy autonomy while raising new questions about Canada’s investment climate, long-term infrastructure planning and if decentralization strengthens Canada’s ability to build or fragments it further.
As MP Greg McLean noted, “The initial goal is shovels in the ground on two new major pipelines, one new LNG project, and a road to the Ring of Fire by next March.”
In our national surveys, we found 85 per cent of engaged women support infrastructure expansion that strengthens our economy, and a strong economy helps put backpacks on our kids, fills their lunchboxes with food and classrooms with books.
As Parliament reconvenes in September, the months ahead will test whether Canada can match its policy ambitions with action.