Hub Podcasts Why Carney's major projects plan could backfire on Canada's economy
Sep 11, 2025
In this discussion, the hosts analyze Prime Minister Mark Carney's ambitious infrastructure plans for Canada. They critique the alignment between these projects and the promises made during the election, questioning if they're genuinely responsive to market needs. The risks of a state-centric approach to economic recovery are highlighted. They also delve into the influence of political lobbying on project selection, pointing out the disconnect between government intentions and real-world economic challenges.
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Parallel System Over Fixing The Problem
- The government created a parallel expedited review for 'national interest' projects rather than fixing the underlying regulatory system.
- That layers a new process on top of a system the prime minister himself called broken, limiting broad improvement.
Small List Versus Big Rhetoric
- The five chosen projects are modest and politically selected rather than transformational economic drivers.
- That creates a gap between campaign rhetoric about an 'energy superpower' and the actual announced scope.
Politics, Not Markets, Chose Projects
- The projects were chosen through political judgement and lobbying, not market selection.
- That risks misallocating priority away from projects that markets would have advanced first.