Canada Eyes Infrastructure Projects As a Way to Decouple From America

A new oil pipeline running to British Columbia’s coast looks increasingly likely to join Canada’s fast-track list of nationally significant projects, according to Prime Minister Mark Carney. 

This comes as Canada looks to speed up major projects aimed at strengthening its autonomy (from the US), while building its own resilience and strength. This is slated to include projects related to the extraction of critical minerals, energy security, and physical infrastructure in the Arctic, aimed at reinforcing sovereignty.

Speaking during the annual Calgary Stampede, Carney hinted that the sheer economic scale and technical expertise behind Canada’s energy sector make this pipeline proposal almost inevitable. However, the initiative will have to come from the private sector, rather than through direct government orders.

Carney also backed Alberta’s proposed C$12.14 billion carbon capture project for the oil sands, suggesting it too has the potential to qualify as a nationally strategic initiative. 

His remarks follow Canada’s recent Senate approval of legislation designed to accelerate permits for major resource and infrastructure developments. The bill, passed just weeks ago, aims to reduce interprovincial trade barriers and streamline processes for high-impact projects, such as mines and pipelines.

What Does This Mean for Me?

Canada remains the world’s fourth-largest oil exporter, with approximately 75% of its exports still destined for the United States. However, the government’s push for infrastructure, such as pipelines, reflects a broader strategy to diversify trade and reduce reliance on the US market. 

With the Canadian dollar trading at around 1.3593 to the US dollar, resource projects that boost export capacity remain a central plank of the country’s economic strategy.