February 6, 2025
Like most Canadians, I spent my weekend glued to the news, watching the latest trade developments unfold. The tariffs. The retaliation. The uncertainty. Another hit to our economy, another roadblock thrown in our way. At first, I stewed over it. Then it hit me—this is the kick in the butt we need.
For too long, Canada has relied on access to global markets while undercutting our own ability to produce, refine, and build. We have the resources. We have the workforce. We have the expertise. What we lack is the will to get out of our own way and take control of our economic future.
Let’s talk crude oil. Canada is the fourth-largest producer of oil in the world. We export millions of barrels to the U.S. every day. Yet, thanks to a lack of domestic refining capacity and pipeline bottlenecks, we end up importing oil from overseas to supply our eastern provinces. Let that sink in: we sell our crude to the U.S., where it’s refined, and then we buy it back—often at a premium.
This reliance on foreign refineries is a vulnerability, not a strategy. More domestic refining capacity means more jobs, more energy security, and less exposure to this geopolitical mess. It’s a clear example of where cutting red tape and incentivizing infrastructure investment would give us more control over our futures.
Canada has another advantage the world needs — critical minerals. The global race for lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements is heating up, and Canada sits on a treasure trove of these essential materials. These minerals aren’t just valuable; they are the foundation of clean energy, electric vehicles, and battery storage technology.
Yet, our mining industry is drowning in permitting delays, regulatory redundancies, and endless red tape. Meanwhile, other countries are moving full steam ahead and locking in supply chains. Let’s be clear here: responsible mining and environmental protection are non-negotiable. But the truth is if we don’t mine these minerals responsibly, some other country will. And often, their standards for labour and the environment are far worse.
If Canada wants to lead the clean energy transition, we need to streamline approvals while maintaining strong environmental and community oversight. No, we cannot bulldoze over rightsholders and stakeholders; it’s about creating fair, predictable, and mutually beneficial investments.
Canada has world-class wind and hydro potential, yet our grid capacity and transmission infrastructure are outdated and underdeveloped. Provinces act like isolated power islands, with little incentive to share electricity across provincial borders. Meanwhile, we import electricity from the U.S. in some regions instead of unlocking the full potential of what we can generate ourselves.
Even worse, communities across the country still lack consistent access to reliable power. In a country overflowing with energy? Many of these communities still rely on expensive, polluting diesel generators, while renewable projects in their regions face endless bureaucratic hurdles. Canada needs a national strategy that integrates wind, hydro, and other renewables into a connected, efficient grid. More importantly, we need to cut the red tape that slows projects down before they even get off the ground.
Canada has some of the largest freshwater reserves in the world, yet clean drinking water remains a crisis in many Indigenous and First Nations communities. How is this still happening? In a resource-rich country like ours? The same bureaucratic inefficiencies that stall energy projects also block meaningful action on water infrastructure. We need real investment in sustainable water systems—modern filtration plants, updated pipelines, and local capacity-building to ensure long-term maintenance. Access to clean water isn’t an economic talking point; it’s a fundamental right. Let's start acting like it.
There’s no shortage of ambition in Canada. We have the talent, the technology, and the natural resources to be a global powerhouse. What’s missing is the willingness to get out of our own way.
Yes, tariffs are a problem. But they’re also a wake-up call. Relying on other countries to process and refine our resources only weakens us. If we want to be a major world player, we need to stop waiting for permission and start building—energy, industry, and infrastructure.
This may turn out to be our moment.
Let’s get to work.
