
As premiers get set to meet Carney, what’s on their whish list?
Global News
The federal government is developing what it calls a "national interest" bill to fast-track nation-building projects with a streamlined regulatory approval process.
Canada’s premiers are heading into to a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Saskatoon Monday armed with their wish lists for major “nation-building” projects that could buttress the economy in the face of a U.S. trade war.
Carney asked the premiers to each pass on five suggestions for national infrastructure projects, and Monday’s meeting will aim to identify the ones that will make the final cut to be fast tracked using legislation Ottawa may introduce as early as this week.
The conversation is taking place against the backdrop of an ongoing trade war with the United States, renewed debate about separatism in Alberta and a push to break down interprovincial trade barriers to encourage more trade between provinces and less reliance on trade with the U.S.
That push already had a sense of urgency, following several months of unpredictable tariff moves by President Donald Trump, but got another injection of reality on Friday, as Trump indicated plans to double already damaging tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25 per cent to 50 per cent on June 4.
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in a statement Saturday that Ottawa has “taken note” of that new plan and remains “resolute” to defend Canadian workers and communities.
“We can give ourselves far more than the United States can take from us,” he said on X. “That’s why this Monday, the prime minister will meet with premiers in Saskatoon with one goal — build one Canadian economy out of thirteen, and get big, nation-building projects built faster.”
The federal government is developing what it calls a “national interest” bill to fast-track a small number of nation-building projects with a streamlined regulatory approval process as a substitute for reviews under the Impact Assessment Act.
Which projects are the main topic of debate on Monday, with a heavy emphasis on critical minerals mining, energy and ports.













