SASKATOON – The first in-person meeting between Canada’s premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney since the federal election got underway in Saskatoon Monday morning, with provinces pitching major projects they think should get fast-tracked.
Carney vowed during the election campaign to slash federal approval times on major infrastructure projects in the “national interest” to help make the country an “energy superpower.”
Legislation to make that a reality is expected to be introduced in the House of Commons as early as this week.
The prime minister and the premiers are keeping the full list of big projects under discussion a secret because they don’t want to send negative signals about anything that doesn’t make the short list.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said recently she wants to see an oil pipeline extended to B.C.‘s northern coast at Prince Rupert.
B.C. deputy premier Niki Sharma pointed out Monday that Smith’s pipeline proposal has “no proponent at this stage” and her province is pursuing “shovel-ready” projects.
“Although we have differences of opinion with respect to that, we’re focused on where we can find alignment,” Sharma said on her way into the meeting.
“We’re going to be focused on shovel-ready projects in B.C. that we can bring forward and we know will have a really solid impact on the economy.”
B.C. Premier David Eby is not at the meeting. He is in Asia for a preplanned trade mission.
On his way into the meeting Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the idea of a pipeline to B.C.‘s northern coast would be discussed.
“Hopefully we can get it out west, so we can get to the Asian market, but we have to get it north and we have to get it east as well,” Ford said.
Ford said it’s “absolutely critical” that Canada expand its export markets.
The Ring of Fire mining project in northern Ontario is one of Ford’s main priorities heading into the meeting.
The first ministers are also expected to discuss breaking down interprovincial trade barriers, which would make it easier to purchase Canadian-made goods from other provinces and territories.
Many provinces, including Quebec and Ontario, are coming to the table with legislation that would eliminate some of these longstanding obstacles to internal trade.
— With files from Rob Drinkwater in Edmonton
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025.
