Every once in a while, you find yourself holding exactly what everyone else wants.
In poker, it’s pocket aces. In Survivor, it’s a hidden immunity idol. In real estate, it’s owning the last lot in a neighbourhood everyone wants to live in.
Canada is in that position.
This country’s energy and natural resources are among the most sought-after in the world, and a formal review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is approaching. It’s an advantageous position to be in for a negotiation this large, but only if everyone agrees on the cards to play.
In Ottawa, that clarity has not arrived.
Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson has called energy and natural resources Canada’s strongest cards, but Prime Minister Mark Carney says he won’t use energy or critical minerals as leverage in a trade talk. He instead describes them as trade opportunities rather than bargaining tools. The opposition has pressed the government to clarify what Canada’s position actually is.
Canada Powered by Women (CPW) research shows 85% of engaged women say Canada’s natural resources give the country a strong bargaining position in international trade and global energy discussions. And other recent polling shows the broader public arriving at the same conclusion, with 61% of Canadians now saying economic growth should be the biggest priority in energy policy.
Several significant developments are underway that will shape how strong that hand actually is. Click to learn more as we unpack news from this month: