Pipeline Gridlock: Carney’s Deference to Provincial Gatekeepers

🚨 Mark Carney’s Pipeline Problem

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech last Friday was all about “urgency” and “nation building.” He unveiled his new “One Canadian Economy” bill, promising to cut the red tape that has made it “too difficult to build in this country.” But when asked whether that bill would override provincial objections to pipelines, Carney’s answer was a flat “No.”

The Big Promise—And the Big Caveat

Carney’s news conference had all the right buzzwords. He spoke passionately about a Canada where major infrastructure projects, from energy to transit, move forward more quickly—projects that he calls “nation building.” The goal? To strengthen the entire country and unify its economy. Sounds good, right?

But there’s a catch. When pushed about pipelines—arguably the most controversial and crucial of infrastructure projects—Carney said he’d leave that decision up to the provinces. “If a province doesn’t want it, it’s impossible,” he declared. Carney even went so far as to say, “It is not the choice of the federal government.” 🤔

The Constitution Says Otherwise 📜

Here’s where things get tricky. Carney’s comments seem to ignore a pretty big part of Canada’s Constitution. Section 92 (10) gives Ottawa the power over “Works and Undertakings connecting” provinces. Translation: if a pipeline crosses a provincial border, it’s under federal jurisdiction. Period.

This isn’t just theoretical. In 2019, B.C. tried to stop the Trans Mountain pipeline by setting conditions on it. The B.C. Court of Appeal smacked that down, ruling that it was Ottawa’s decision to make. The court said it was a national project that “affects the country as a whole.” In other words, provinces don’t get a veto. 🛑

A Political Cop-Out? 🤷‍♂️

So why is Carney pretending he doesn’t have this power? It’s not that the Constitution is unclear. It’s that Carney, like many federal leaders before him, doesn’t want the political headache of exercising that authority. Instead, he’s effectively handing the provinces—especially B.C. and Quebec—a veto.

Let’s be honest: it’s a smart move politically. Why take the heat for a pipeline when you can let B.C. and Quebec say no for you? But is it good for Canada as a whole? If a project is truly in the national interest, as Carney claims, shouldn’t the federal government stand up and approve it—even if the provinces say no? 🤷‍♀️

The Reality Check

Ottawa loves to meddle in health care, in carbon taxes, and in social programs—areas that, arguably, are mostly provincial turf. Yet when it comes to its own clear constitutional powers, like interprovincial pipelines, it suddenly goes quiet. 🤐

This has been a trend with Liberal governments in particular. They’re happy to expand federal spending and programs, but shy away from using the actual constitutional levers they control. Building pipelines, highways, or other nation-spanning infrastructure isn’t as glamorous as announcing a new dental plan or daycare subsidy.

What’s at Stake?

At the heart of this debate is a vision for Canada. Is Canada truly “one economy, not 13,” as Carney likes to say? Or is it a patchwork of 13 different veto points, where even a single province can scuttle a project that would benefit the entire country?

If Carney really wants to be a nation builder, he’ll need to start acting like the prime minister of Canada—not just the project manager for Ontario, Quebec, and B.C. 💡 Because pipelines and other major infrastructure projects aren’t just about provincial preferences. They’re about energy security, jobs, and the overall strength of the Canadian economy.

The Bottom Line

Mark Carney has the constitutional authority to approve pipelines, no matter what the provinces think. He just doesn’t want to use it. And that’s a problem if Canada is ever going to move beyond endless squabbling and actually get big projects built.

At a time when Canada faces massive challenges—climate change, economic uncertainty, and global competition—this isn’t just about pipelines. It’s about whether Ottawa will step up and act like the federal government it’s supposed to be. ✨

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