Canada has the vision and resources to become an energy superpower, but the politics of urgency raise a more difficult question: if Canada has what it takes, why does building still take so long?
The government says it is moving faster, with a trade corridor agenda and a two-year cap on project approvals meant to revive the spirit of nation-building. But the gap between ambition and delivery is noticeable.
The new national projects office says early planning should take 180 days, but companies report it often takes nearly a year.
Experts at the Canada West Foundation say faster approvals will only work if governments create clear and consistent frameworks. The Fraser Institute adds that constant rule changes have burned investors and left projects stalled.
If governments cannot hold steady to their own timelines, affordability and reliability will keep slipping. The test now is whether Ottawa’s two-year promise for final project approvals delivers real speed or just another round of politics.
For engaged women, the issue is straightforward. Delays in building the infrastructure that ultimately powers homes and businesses cut directly into Canadian prosperity. Canada is trying to build big again, but the test will be whether urgency is finally matched by successful delivery.