Watch: Unpacking Carney’s major projects push | The Narwhal

Prime Minister Mark Carney seems intent on building his political legacy around getting major development projects built — and establishing Canada as an energy superpower. His controversial Bill C-5 created a pathway for projects to avoid certain regulatory requirements, and he’s sent about a dozen proposals — in mining, energy, electricity and transportation — to the new Major Projects Office in hopes they can be sped along.

So far, though, not one has been officially designated as a project in the “national interest,” and not one has been given any special ability to bypass regulatory hurdles. What’s really happening with these projects, and how is the Major Projects Office actually involved?

The Narwhal got into it during an event on Dec. 2, featuring Ontario reporter Carl Meyer, Prairies reporter Drew Anderson and B.C. reporter Shannon Waters. Ontario reporter Fatima Syed moderated the conversation. A list of articles by The Narwhal referenced during the event is available here.

Another year of keeping a close watch

Here at The Narwhal, we don’t use profit, awards or pageviews to measure success. The thing that matters most is real-world impact — evidence that our reporting influenced citizens to hold power to account and pushed policymakers to do better.

And in 2024, our stories were raised in parliaments across the country and cited by citizens in their petitions and letters to politicians.

In Alberta, our reporting revealed Premier Danielle Smith made false statements about the controversial renewables pause. In Manitoba, we proved that officials failed to formally inspect a leaky pipeline for years. And our investigations on a leaked recording of TC Energy executives were called “the most important Canadian political story of the year.”

We’d like to thank you for paying attention. And if you’re able to donate anything at all to help us keep doing this work in 2025 — which will bring a whole lot we can’t predict — thank you so very much.

Will you help us hold the powerful accountable in the year to come by giving what you can today?

Yes, I’ll support independent journalism

Another year of keeping a close watch

Here at The Narwhal, we don’t use profit, awards or pageviews to measure success. The thing that matters most is real-world impact — evidence that our reporting influenced citizens to hold power to account and pushed policymakers to do better.

And in 2024, our stories were raised in parliaments across the country and cited by citizens in their petitions and letters to politicians.

In Alberta, our reporting revealed Premier Danielle Smith made false statements about the controversial renewables pause. In Manitoba, we proved that officials failed to formally inspect a leaky pipeline for years. And our investigations on a leaked recording of TC Energy executives were called “the most important Canadian political story of the year.”

We’d like to thank you for paying attention. And if you’re able to donate anything at all to help us keep doing this work in 2025 — which will bring a whole lot we can’t predict — thank you so very much.

Will you help us hold the powerful accountable in the year to come by giving what you can today?

I’ll support independent journalism

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