EDMONTON — As news of pipelines and energy corridor projects make headlines across the country in the midst of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and a federal election, the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) and the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) are sounding the alarm over Liberal Leader Mark Carney’s decision not to repeal Bill C-69.
“Prime Minister Carney makes it clear that he intends to double down on the same flawed approach,” a statement from the PCA reads. “Rather than repeal Bill C-69 — legislation that has stalled, and in some cases outright cancelled critical natural resource projects — he’s choosing to entrench it. Since its passage, more than 25 major resource and infrastructure projects have been delayed or abandoned altogether, costing billions in lost investment and thousands of potential jobs.”
The ICBA states the decision to keep the bill despite a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that much of the legislation is unconstitutional is weakening the country.
“The Supreme Court got it right. Mr. Carney has it wrong,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA president and CEO.
“By keeping C-69 in place, Mr. Carney is signalling that the Trudeau-era hostility toward natural resource development will continue.”
PCA has launched the Let’s Get Building campaign during this federal election, which is aimed at raising public awareness about the importance of getting nation-building projects underway without further delay and the ICBA has endorsed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre who has pitched an energy corridor plan.
“If we’re going to build a stronger Canada, that means getting energy and natural resource projects built now, without further delay,” said Paul de Jong, PCA president and CEO. “More of the same old thinking will continue to delay jobs, investment and growth. Canada truly requires a much different approach, if it’s going to reinvent a resilient and ‘tariff resistant’ economy.”
The ICBA was actively involved in the fight against Bill C-69 and advocated for responsible resource development.
“Since the Trudeau Liberals passed Bill C-69 six years ago, only one energy project, Cedar LNG near Kitimat, B.C., has survived the new framework,” said Mike Martens, ICBA Alberta president. “Carney’s refusal to repeal it means continued paralysis for billions of dollars in potential investment and the thousands of jobs those projects would create. We can’t build if we don’t approve projects, and construction workers don’t cash paycheques if we aren’t building anything.”
Carney has stated throughout his election campaign and on his website that his government would “use all its powers, policy instruments and fiscal capacity to speed the construction of major projects in the national interest.”
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