Prime Minister Mark Carney, Nation-Builder

By Lori Turnbull, Senior Advisor
October 9, 2025

At a basic level, every prime minister is a nation-builder. Every prime minister has a vision for the country and makes a unique contribution to its growth and wellbeing. Prime Minister Mark Carney has been explicit about nation-building in his political rhetoric. It is at the heart of his political identity, his communications strategy, and his approach to growing Canada’s economy.

On June 26, 2025 Parliament passed the One Canadian Economy Act which promises both to lower barriers to internal trade between Canadian provinces and to expedite the approvals process for major projects that would make a significant contribution to Canada’s economic prosperity. The government has created a Major Projects Office in Calgary, Alberta to act as a single-window point of contact for those looking to propose projects.  So far, the government has identified five projects to be considered for approval, including one that would double Canada’s production of liquefied natural gas.

When speaking to the public and telling the story of Canada’s history, Prime Minister Carney identifies key moments like the construction of the national railway as formative events in nation-building. He positions the major projects initiative as a similar moment in our historical story arc that will strengthen the ties that bind us and make us more resilient and independent, particularly in the context of the instability in our relationship with the United States.

Lifting these projects up will require federal leadership in bringing together support from provinces, stakeholders, private sector partners, and Indigenous communities. The Prime Minister has indicated that no province will be forced into participating in a project. No doubt, there will be times that provinces will disagree on paths forward. It is also possible that, even if there is political consensus and support for a particular endeavour, that private sector partners will not necessarily put their hands up to provide the financial backing required.  Further, a number of Indigenous communities have expressed the concern that consultation with them has not been adequate. In other words, there are a number of potential and meaningful roadblocks and obstacles along the way.

In the months ahead, we will see more projects be considered for fast-tracked approvals at the same time as we negotiate new trade relationships with the United States and other partners. The success of the major projects initiative will depend, to a large extent, on Prime Minister Carney’s capacity as a nation-builder who is able to bring people together despite divergent interests and priorities.