Canada passes law fast-tracking nation building projects to counter Trump
Canada's parliament has passed a landmark bill giving Prime Minister Mark Carney's government new powers to fast-track major national projects.The One Canadian Economy Act was passed by the Senate on Thursday, and allows the cabinet to streamline approvals processes and bypass certain provisions of federal laws for projects that could boost the economy.Supporters have argued the legislation is a critical step in reducing Canada's dependence on the United States, amid trade tensions sparked by President Donald Trump's tariffs.But it has been criticised by Indigenous groups and environmental activists who say expediting the projects could stifle opposition voices.
The legislation does not determine what will be built, but the prime minister has previously signalled that it could be used to construct energy corridors, such as pipelines and electricity grids, and expand mines and ports.The act will "remove trade barriers, expedite nation-building projects, and unleash economic growth, with Indigenous partnership at the centre of this growth," Carney said last week.The government said the act will reduce barriers for internal trade and labour mobility. It will also give the government sweeping powers to approve projects "that are in the national interest". That has alarmed Indigenous leaders, who fear they will not be consulted adequately before such projects are approved.The passage of the bill into law is a significant victory for Carney, and upholds an election promise to remove interprovincial barriers by Canada Day on 1 July. Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminium and its auto sector. Carney had campaigned heavily on bolstering the country's economy to counter tariff threats from the US, with whom Canada does the bulk of its trade.Paul Prosper, a Nova Scotia senator who belongs to the Mi'kmaq Indigenous group, unsuccessfully attempted to insert an amendment that would require consent from Indigenous groups before a project could go ahead. He criticised the speed with which the legislation passed, saying that rights holders could have been consulted by "investing a few more months". He said he supports development, but the law could allow the government and industry leaders to ignore Indigenous rights. "No one wants to watch our children grow up in squalor, with no access to clean drinking water, no opportunity for good-paying jobs and no support for our sick and dying. However, we do not want success and progress to come on the backs of Indigenous Peoples," he said in the Senate, as quoted by CBC. However a supporter of the bill, Senator Hassan Yussuff, said it was a response to an "urgent and immediate crisis", in comments reported by CBC.The legislation states that the government will consult with Indigenous peoples before fast-tracking a project.
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For instance, you can use the 'Highlight Cells Rules' option to emphasize numbers greater than 100 or flag dates within the past week. This process ensures that key data points stand out immediately, making it easier to focus on the most relevant information. Conditional Formatting in Excel 365 Explained : 2025 Guide Watch this video on YouTube. Uncover more insights about Excel conditional formatting in previous articles we have written. Customizing Formatting Options Excel 365 allows you to go beyond predefined rules by creating custom formatting tailored to your specific needs. This flexibility enables you to define unique criteria and apply personalized styles that align with your objectives. Examples of custom formatting include: Highlighting overdue tasks with bold text and a red background to emphasize urgency. Shading cells with positive financial values in green to indicate profitability. Using gradient color scales to visualize trends across a range of values, such as sales performance over time. Custom rules provide greater control over how your data is presented, making sure that the most relevant information is immediately visible. This level of customization is particularly valuable when working with complex datasets that require nuanced analysis. Dynamic Formatting for Changing Data One of the most powerful features of conditional formatting is its dynamic nature. As your data changes, the formatting automatically updates to reflect the new values. For example, if you set a rule to highlight salaries above $120,000, any updates to the salary data will immediately adjust the formatting. This dynamic capability is invaluable for tasks such as: Monitoring real-time trends in financial data or sales performance. Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) that fluctuate over time. 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Practical Applications of Conditional Formatting Conditional formatting has a wide range of practical applications that can enhance both data visualization and decision-making. Some examples include: Text-Based Formatting: Highlight cells containing specific keywords, such as marking all entries for the 'Marketing' department in green for easy identification. Highlight cells containing specific keywords, such as marking all entries for the 'Marketing' department in green for easy identification. Numerical Thresholds: Emphasize values that exceed or fall below a certain range, such as identifying sales figures above $50,000 or below $10,000. Emphasize values that exceed or fall below a certain range, such as identifying sales figures above $50,000 or below $10,000. Date-Based Rules: Track upcoming deadlines by highlighting dates within the next seven days, making sure timely action. 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