Pipeline to the West

by Eduardo del Buey

Pipeline to the West

Since he became Prime Minister, many have been asking if Mark Carney has the chops to do the job Canadians need in view of the enormous challenges posed by the Trump administration and geopolitical realities.

The Official Opposition rails against him for not having lived up to his repeated election promises to negotiate a trade deal with the U.S. by July 21^st last. They also accuse him of travelling the world with no concern for Canadian jobs or interests.

I beg to differ.

You cannot undo the damage caused by the failed policies of the past 10 years of rule by the previous Trudeau Liberal government, coupled with the unprecedented actions against Canada by the current US administration, and turn an economy like Canada’s on its head overnight. You cannot change the flow of exports from one region of the globe to another without much groundwork by officials and private sector players.

It is a medium to long term effort, and much preparation is required.

One issue on which Prime Minister Carney has started to make a significant difference is his agreement with Alberta Premier Daniele Smith on the construction of a pipeline to the Pacific.

When it was signed last week, many doubted it will ever be built. They saw massive opposition by the government of British Columba Premier David Eby, and the difficulties in negotiating with First Nations over access to their traditional lands for the pipeline’s crossing.

They accused the Prime Minister of selling Canadians a chimera.

I disagree with these conclusions.

A majority of Canadians support the construction of pipelines to move one of Canada’s greatest natural resources to new markets where there is much demand.

While the leftist Premier of British Columbia may oppose a pipeline, many in that province will welcome the massive investment that this project presents and the thousands of well-paying jobs it will create.

Polls indicate that Premier Eby’s popularity is in the sewer and that he will likely lose the next election.

Many conclude that he is on the wrong side of history.

In addition, labelling First Nations as a solid block is a mistake made by opponents of the pipeline.

Many First Nations individuals and companies are very active and successful in the extractive industries and construction in that province. They will likely be thrilled to win their share of the funding generated by the pipeline.

Furthermore, with Indigenous unemployment significantly higher than that of non-Indigenous peoples, many First Nations citizens will likely welcome the opportunity to earn more, find good-paying jobs, and participate in a growing economy rather than subsist at current levels.

The Prime Minister also has the constitutional tools to circumvent Premier Eby and Indigenous leaders should push come to shove – the notwithstanding clause that allows the federal government to override provincial legislation and court decisions with respect to First Nations’ rights to implement measures to secure Canada’s well-being.

Finally, Mr. Carney continues to move the governing Liberals towards the political center. He enjoys greater popularity as a leader than Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, and his current moves, which include adopting some Conservative policies, could consolidate him as a leader who gets things done rather than runs off at the mouth like his predecessor.

Implementing the policies the Conservatives have proposed and want but cannot do, since they are not in power, could lead to electoral success if they meet voter expectations.

I have always believed that the perfect is the enemy of the good.

In a perfect world, we would not need fossil fuels or take minimal risks with the environment to create the jobs and economic future Canadians are demanding.

But we don’t live in a perfect world.

We need transportation, heating, and jobs. Fossil fuels will remain a necessary evil for some time to come. And Canadians will depend on this industry for employment and economic growth.

To achieve the best results, the Prime Minister and provincial premiers must negotiate access to new markets to replace our moribund ties with the U.S.

To do so, they and their officials must travel the world, along with their private-sector partners, to build the relationships necessary to pursue new deals and opportunities for Canadians.

They must also take well-calculated risks with the investments they make to achieve good results and mitigate potential dangers. Based on the last budget, there is significant room for improvement, which, if left unaddressed, could be Mr. Carney’s undoing in the near future.

We live in a new world, and both leaders and citizens must discard old ideologies and policies and find new ways forward.

This is not with inherent dangers.

But absent a willingness to change, Canadians will remain stuck in a past that no longer serves their interests.

The Prime Minister seems to know this. The Alberta deal is a start, but can he get the job done?

The jury is still out!