Opinion - Carney's green vision may leave oil and gas behind

Cheryl Bowman

Prime Minister Mark Carney recently briefed Canada’s premiers on a new “One Window” federal approval system, part of a broader plan to accelerate major infrastructure projects and streamline regulatory processes. 

The initiative is being pitched as a step toward national unity and economic resilience.

But beneath the language of efficiency and collaboration lies a familiar tilt in priorities.

Carney’s administration has signalled it will support pipeline development — but only for projects that “make sense,” a phrase that appears to hinge largely on environmental acceptability. For provinces reliant on oil and gas exports, this qualifier raises concern. It suggests a continuation of the federal government’s stance on fossil fuel development, even as energy demands persist and global markets remain volatile.

Carney, a former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor, has long advocated for climate leadership. His latest push seems aligned with that goal, as Canada doubles down on renewables, carbon capture and clean hydrogen. These technologies may offer future promise, but many remain costly, untested at scale and dependent on significant public investment.

While the plan includes language about economic growth and regional cooperation, some provinces — especially those with resource-based economies — may see a different picture. If traditional energy infrastructure continues to be met with regulatory hesitation while green initiatives are fast-tracked, the result could be further strain between Ottawa and western Canada.

Canada can transition to a lower-carbon future. But doing so by sidelining a key sector — one that continues to support thousands of jobs and drive export revenue — risks undermining the very unity and economic strength the plan claims to advance.

If balance is truly the goal, then the path forward must include meaningful space for both innovation and the responsible development of the resources we have today.