Premiers Praise Carney Meeting, Signal Shift In Federal-Provincial Tone On Energy And Infrastructure

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford called Monday’s premiers’ meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney the “best in a decade,” contrasting it with the more contentious era under former PM Justin Trudeau. Ford highlighted a growing sense of unity, particularly in response to U.S. trade tensions, even as pipeline politics simmered beneath the surface.

Premiers Signal Renewed Federal-Provincial Alignment After Landmark Meeting with Carney

Canada’s provincial and territorial leaders struck a notably unified and optimistic tone following a high-stakes meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Saskatoon, aimed at advancing large-scale “nation-building” infrastructure and energy projects. Ontario Premier Doug Ford praised the gathering as the best in a decade, a subtle but pointed contrast to the often fractious meetings held under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—particularly with Prairie provinces frustrated over regulatory delays and federal climate priorities.

A New Tone of Collaboration

The meeting, Ford emphasized, demonstrated a rare moment of consensus among Canada’s premiers, even amid lingering disagreements over contentious issues such as pipelines. He noted that the group remained united in opposing U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade tactics, including tariffs, while rallying around the opportunity to strengthen Canadian energy and infrastructure.

Ford described Carney’s approach as generous and pragmatic, likening him to “Santa Claus” arriving with a sled full of promises, before heading back to Ottawa to sort through the premiers’ ambitious requests. While no specific project approvals were announced, Ford and others stressed that the lack of a final list was not a failure but a step in a longer-term process.

At the closing news conference, Carney outlined his vision for transforming Canada into an “energy superpower,” emphasizing the need for regulatory certainty, stability, and ambition to unlock private-sector investment. He previewed upcoming federal legislation that would fast-track approvals for designated “nation-building” projects within a two-year window—a marked shift from the traditionally lengthy and complex review processes.

Crucially, Carney confirmed that the legislation would include mandatory, meaningful consultations with Indigenous communities—not just during project execution but also in determining which projects receive fast-track status.

Key Projects Mentioned, But No Commitments Yet

While no official list was released, Carney cited several major contenders during his remarks, including:

Grays Bay Road and Port Project – a proposed all-season route connecting Nunavut to the rest of Canada via the Northwest Territories.
Ring of Fire Mining Corridor – a multi-billion-dollar critical minerals initiative in Northern Ontario.
Pathways Alliance Project – a collaborative effort among oilsands producers to use carbon capture and storage (CCS) to decarbonize Alberta’s oil output.

Carney specifically acknowledged that “decarbonized” barrels of oil—produced with reduced emissions through technologies like CCS—could be considered in the national interest. However, he stopped short of endorsing any individual project.

Alberta Pushes for Pipeline Revival

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith entered the meeting insisting that a future-focused list must include new pipeline infrastructure. She argued that major decarbonization efforts, such as the $10–$20 billion Pathways Alliance project, would only be economically viable if Alberta gained greater access to international markets—particularly through a new pipeline to British Columbia’s northwest coast.

Smith welcomed what she described as a dramatic change in tone from the federal government and Carney. She confirmed Carney had agreed to a “two-track process”: one track focused on identifying and advancing near-term project proposals, and another dedicated to reforming the regulatory framework to make future investments easier.

“We didn’t create the conditions for private investment to come to the table before,” Smith said, referencing the federal government’s eventual takeover of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. “But I’m encouraged now that the Prime Minister is prepared to do both—clear a path for a project now, and fix the broader system for the future.”

Pushback from British Columbia

However, enthusiasm for new pipelines was not shared by all provinces. B.C. Deputy Premier Niki Sharma pointedly dismissed the idea of reviving the stalled Northern Gateway pipeline or similar projects to the northwest coast, arguing that such proposals lack an industry backer and are effectively speculative. Sharma reiterated B.C.’s preference for “shovel-ready” projects that already have support and are economically viable. She also emphasized that the recently completed Trans Mountain expansion—purchased and built by the federal government for $34 billion—still has unused capacity.

Unity a Win, Even Without a Final List

Despite the lack of concrete project decisions, the meeting was broadly seen as a political success. The premiers emerged without the public acrimony that often follows these federal-provincial gatherings, presenting a united front around the broader idea of accelerating strategic national infrastructure. Carney acknowledged that determining which projects will move forward will take time and that more proposals are expected to emerge as private developers recognize the opportunity. “There’s real potential here,” he said, suggesting the summer months would be used to further refine criteria for nation-building initiatives.

In sum, the Saskatoon meeting may not have produced immediate project approvals, but it marked a clear pivot in tone and process—suggesting that a more collaborative era may be emerging between Ottawa and the provinces when it comes to building the infrastructure and energy systems that will define Canada’s future.