The witan Bulletin: June 27, 2025

Published 11:20 AM EST,  Friday,  June 27, 2025, from Ottawa

This bulletin was authored by Steven M. Ford, Contributor for Regulation and Natural Resources

Summary

• Bill C-5 Clears Senate, Fast-Track Powers Near Law Amid Indigenous, Environmental Concern: Bill C-5, enabling faster approvals for major infrastructure and resource projects, has passed the Senate, raising concerns among Indigenous and environmental groups despite promised consultations starting July 17.

• Canada Seizes Critical Minerals Moment Amid Global Demand and Trade Tensions: Canada aims to capitalize on surging global demand for critical minerals by streamlining project approvals through Bill C-5 and building domestic processing capacity, with a summit planned for July 17 to secure Indigenous consent.

• Canada Commits to Massive Defence Spending Hike with Strategic Infrastructure Tie-In: Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a 5% GDP defence spending target by 2035, including 1.5% for infrastructure like critical mineral development, amid geopolitical threats and criticism over funding and democratic mandate.

• Alberta Eyes West Coast Pipeline Amid National Project Push: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith anticipates a private-sector oil pipeline proposal to British Columbia’s coast, leveraging Bill C-5’s fast-track provisions and proposing a “grand bargain” with carbon capture infrastructure.

• Natural Resources Lead Surge in Economic Lobbying Under New Government: Economic development, particularly natural resources, has become the top lobbying issue in May 2025, with business groups pushing for regulatory streamlining via Bill C-5 to boost Canada’s energy, mining, and forestry sectors.

Bill C-5 Clears Senate, Fast-Track Powers Near Law Amid Indigenous, Environmental Concern

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s flagship legislation, Bill C-5, has passed the Senate and now awaits royal assent, setting the stage for a dramatic shift in how Canada approves major infrastructure and natural resource projects. The bill enables the federal cabinet to place projects on a national-interest list, allowing them to bypass certain legal and regulatory hurdles—a move aimed at accelerating approvals in response to rising geopolitical and economic pressures, particularly from the United States. While the government has promised consultation with Indigenous rights holders, critics—including Indigenous leaders and environmental advocates—have raised concerns about the speed and scope of the bill. Despite attempted amendments in the Senate to delay its passage, the bill advanced with only a voice vote and no formal record. Engagement sessions with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders are scheduled to begin July 17. The legislation passed both chambers of Parliament in under a month, underscoring the Carney government’s urgency to stimulate economic growth through resource development and strategic infrastructure. (The Globe and Mail, June 26, 2025)

Canada Seizes Critical Minerals Moment Amid Global Demand and Trade Tensions

Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson emphasized surging international demand for Canadian critical minerals, calling it a defining economic opportunity as G7 and NATO allies seek secure, non-Chinese supply chains. Speaking in Toronto, Hodgson underscored the need for Canada not only to mine critical minerals but to build domestic processing capacity to retain greater value. The recently passed Bill C-5, dubbed the One Canadian Economy Act, aims to streamline approvals for major infrastructure and resource projects while breaking down interprovincial trade barriers. Hodgson described Canada as navigating a period of deep geopolitical instability, including what he called a “devastating trade war” with the U.S. To advance resource development with Indigenous consent, Prime Minister Mark Carney will convene a summit on July 17 with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders to identify projects that can be fast-tracked under the new legislation. The government’s core message is clear: regulatory certainty and national unity are key to catalyzing investment and winning an involuntary but consequential trade war. (Financial Post, June 25, 2025)

Canada Commits to Massive Defence Spending Hike with Strategic Infrastructure Tie-In

Following a NATO summit in the Netherlands, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada’s commitment to a new alliance-wide target of 5% of GDP for defence-related spending by 2035 — a figure that would total approximately $150 billion annually. The plan, heavily influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump, allocates 3.5% for military spending and 1.5% for defence-related infrastructure, including critical mineral development, ports, airports, and telecom systems — sectors already central to Canada’s natural resource strategy. This marks a significant policy shift, as Canada has yet to reach its previous 2% NATO commitment, though Carney has pledged to meet it by 2025–26. The prime minister linked the new target to growing geopolitical threats and acknowledged major reforms are needed in defence procurement, which has historically plagued federal infrastructure and capital project delivery. The spending increase is expected to be partially offset through economic growth and federal budget balancing within three years, though funding specifics remain vague. While widely praised by NATO leaders, the commitment has faced criticism at home from opposition voices who argue it lacks democratic mandate and overlooks complementary investments in peacebuilding and development. (National Post, June 25, 2025)

Alberta Eyes West Coast Pipeline Amid National Project Push

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expects a private-sector firm to propose a new oil pipeline to British Columbia’s coast within weeks, aiming to secure early placement on Ottawa’s forthcoming list of nationally significant infrastructure projects. The push comes as Canada’s Parliament passes Bill C-5, legislation designed to expedite regulatory reviews for major projects like pipelines and transmission lines, with a two-year approval goal. Smith is in talks with several energy companies and believes a northwest B.C. route is the most viable option, both economically and logistically. She hopes the pipeline would be fully funded by private capital, contrasting it with the federally owned Trans Mountain expansion, which ballooned to $34 billion. As part of a broader strategy, Smith is proposing a “grand bargain” combining pipeline development with carbon capture infrastructure, backed by both provincial and federal funding. Alberta has also pledged to dedicate its royalty oil to support new pipelines, including via a working group formed with Enbridge. Smith’s optimism reflects a growing sense that Prime Minister Mark Carney may be more receptive to strategic oil infrastructure than his predecessor. (Financial Post, June 24, 2025)

Natural Resources Lead Surge in Economic Lobbying Under New Government

In May 2025, economic development became the top federal lobbying issue in Canada, overtaking international trade amid renewed efforts to prioritize natural resource development under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new Liberal government. The Business Council of Alberta (BCA) led the push, filing 17 communications focused on urging Ottawa to remove policy and regulatory barriers that have historically deterred investment in Canada’s energy, mining, and forestry sectors. BCA President Adam Legge framed the moment as a turning point driven by global conflict and supply chain instability, positioning Canada as a dependable democratic supplier of critical minerals, food, and energy—if policy ambition aligns. The surge coincides with the passage of Bill C-5, which aims to streamline approvals for major infrastructure and resource projects, a move welcomed by business groups. The Canola Council of Canada and Aerospace Industries Association of Canada also lobbied heavily, citing trade tensions with China and the U.S., along with calls to repeal job-killing policies like the federal luxury tax. Lobbyists broadly stressed the need for cohesive, long-term industrial strategies to reclaim competitiveness and restore investor confidence in Canada’s resource-rich economy. (The Hill Times, June 23, 2025)