Carney, Kinew rev up economic engines, drown out Indigenous, environmental concerns

Winnipeg Free Press

23-07-2025

Opinion
It's one of the great trade-offs in politics: invest in something that has ambiguous public support on the promise that it will lead to significant economic growth.
You can see it at work all over Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is in full trade-off mode, having passed Bill C-5 to fast-track infrastructure projects of 'national interest' in an effort to jump-start the economy, Trump-proof it from the whims of our tariff-obsessed neighbours to the immediate south, advance the interests of Indigenous peoples and promote 'clean growth.'
Prime Minister Mark Carney (The Canadian Press files)
It's a pledge that Canadians support, in general. However, when you start looking at the individual projects under consideration, you quickly see that it is unlikely he will be able to accomplish all the bill promises.
Carney has not yet decided exactly which projects to fast-track, but under serious consideration are the extraction of critical mineral deposits in northern Ontario's famed Ring of Fire and a second pipeline from the Alberta oilsands to the West Coast.
A majority of Canadians support the construction of additional natural gas pipelines but are less certain about those that transport oil. And, in an age of violent climate events driven by carbon emissions, there are parallel concerns about making that the focus of Carney's efforts.
The public is even more conflicted about promises to fast-track critical mineral extraction in the Ring of Fire. A recent public opinion survey commissioned by the National Ethic Press and Media Council of Canada found the public is evenly split on whether to fast track projects in the James Bay Lowlands region. The poll found that the public is OK with bypassing local government bylaws and even some environmental regulations, but two-thirds said they cannot be expedited against the wishes of Indigenous people.
What has the prime minister said about all this potential opposition to his plans?
After promising during the last federal election campaign to 'build big, build bold,' Carney has said only that his government will make the projects as 'clean' as possible, and will consult with Indigenous peoples. However, he has steadfastly argued the projects to be fast-tracked under C-5 will be 'the core of our domestic response' to trade threats from the Trump administration.
The bill, Carney has maintained, is Canada's response to a growing economic crisis. 'If you don't think we're in a crisis, go to Sault Ste. Marie,' he told the House of Commons when C-5 passed in early July. 'Go to Hamilton. Go to Windsor. Go to any lumber or forestry project. There's more coming.'
The trade-off here is pretty clear to see: in exchange for economic growth and security, the prime minister is asking Canadians to stow their concerns about the impacts on the climate, the broader environment and Indigenous rights. And make no mistake about it, despite heightening opposition — particularly from Indigenous leaders in northern Ontario — Carney will be able to proceed on fast-tracking projects with little or no political opposition.
A similar trade-off is unfolding in Manitoba, where Premier Wab Kinew is promoting plans for a trade corridor to the Port of Churchill that could include a petroleum pipeline. It's a proposal that has already landed itself on the short list for Carney's fast-tracking plans.
Kinew has heard plenty from environmentalists and Indigenous leaders about their concern for this plan, particularly the suggestion it could include a pipeline. Although Kinew has said little about the politics of building oil and gas pipelines against a backdrop of worsening climate events, he has expressed confidence 'there's a way that we can do that while maintaining our leading status as being a climate-friendly jurisdiction.'
Kinew has a similarly optimistic but vague position — essentially the same posture that Carney is using — when it comes to confronting the grievances of affected First Nations.
Both leaders are operating on the belief that right now, with an existential economic threat lurking in Washington, Canadians will ultimately support government investment in growing the economy, even if it compromises principles on issues such as climate change and Indigenous rights.
It should be noted that they are not wrong about the potential for economic growth from these projects. The so-called 'mega-project' infrastructure investments undertaken by government do pay dividends in terms of increased GDP. That is generally true, whether it's building new highways, dams, pipelines or fast-tracking a mining development.
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It's even true in the context of Carney's pledge to double Canada's annual defence spending to placate the Trump administration. Canadians may not like why he did it, but as Industry Minister Melanie Joly said this week, it's going to be a huge boost to GDP.
'History has shown us that when you're able to have defence and the private sector really work together, you're able to spear up innovation, make sure that your country is peaceful and, ultimately, create jobs,' she told the Globe and Mail.
We should remember that there is, to date, no example of Kinew or Carney approving projects above the objections of Indigenous people, or significant segments of the population at large.
But they have promised us that we can have our environmental, Indigenous and economic cake, and eat it, too. And that very much remains to be seen.
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Dan LettColumnist
Dan Lett is a columnist for the Free Press, providing opinion and commentary on politics in Winnipeg and beyond. Born and raised in Toronto, Dan joined the Free Press in 1986. Read more about Dan.
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