Where's The Action?

This week, Canada’s Premiers gathered in Huntsville, Ontario, for the summer meeting of the Council of the Federation.

Leaders from every province and territory came together to discuss national unity, economic cooperation, infrastructure, and security - all wrapped up in a flurry of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and grand announcements.

On paper, the meeting was packed with progress:

• Manitoba signed agreements with Saskatchewan, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island aimed at improving labour mobility and allowing more direct-to-consumer alcohol sales across provinces.
• Alberta and the Yukon signed their own trade facilitation deal to remove barriers on goods and services, making it easier for workers and businesses to operate across their borders.
• New Brunswick also signalled its intent to cooperate on labour and trade issues with other provinces.
• Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Arctic Gateway Group announced a partnership to revitalize the Port of Churchill, opening up a strategic Arctic trade corridor.
• Alberta and Saskatchewan joined forces with Ontario to sign a new agreement aimed at building pipelines, rail lines, and major trade corridors to connect our natural resources to global markets.

On the surface, these headlines sounded promising.

But as usual, the devil is in the details.

Note how the last deal is the only one that actually deals with pipelines.

And note, in particular, what - or rather who - is missing from it.

No British Columbia, no Manitoba, and no Quebec - the three provinces that are actually the problem when it comes to actually getting stuff done.

All these MOUs and promises sound encouraging.

Premiers might sign ambitious agreements, issue joint statements, and generate headlines - but will real, lasting change follow?

Political will is often missing when it comes to cutting through red tape and intergovernmental turf wars.

Despite being the literal geographic link between west and east, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew walked away from the deal, refusing to sign.

His reason? Indigenous consensus must come first.

And without Manitoba’s cooperation, any national energy corridor becomes a lot harder to build.

Meanwhile, BC Premier David Eby made it crystal clear that his province is opposed to new pipelines entirely.

Eby dismissed Alberta’s proposal to get a bitumen pipeline to the coast as a non-starter, claiming there’s no money, no proponent, and no public support.

Quebec - well, they're still Quebec.

And as for Ottawa?

Prime Minister Mark Carney avoided directly addressing the pipeline issue altogether, offering only vague platitudes about “projects that benefit multiple stakeholders.”

Once again, Alberta and Saskatchewan are ready to lead - while Ottawa, BC, and Manitoba are nowhere to be found.

We’ve seen this movie before.

Some provinces identify opportunities for growth and cooperation - and central planners either ignore them or block them outright.

Years go by.

The headlines fade.

And the same problems persist.

That’s why the latest Council of the Federation meeting shouldn’t be seen as a turning point - but as a test.

Will provinces be allowed to move forward together, without being held back by those who refuse to act?

At Project Confederation, we believe the answer has to be yes.

We’ve said for years that Canada works best when the provinces take the lead - when they cut through federal red tape, bypass political posturing, and deliver real results for the people who live and work here.

Our job is to keep the pressure on.

To expose the hypocrisy.

To track the promises - and the failures to deliver.

And to fight for a future where provinces don’t have to beg Ottawa for permission to build their own prosperity.

But we can’t do that without your help.

If you’re tired of watching good ideas die on the vine, if you’re ready to see real leadership, and if you want to support provinces that are ready to build - not stall - then please consider making a donation today.

Your support helps us keep pushing for real reform.

When will provincial and federal governments stop talking and start delivering measurable results - better trade flows, faster project approvals, stronger infrastructure, and improved emergency response?

At Project Confederation, we’re committed to answering that question - not with empty rhetoric, but by holding governments accountable, exposing delays, and pushing for genuine cooperation across Canada’s federation.

Regards,

- The Project Confederation Team