AGAR: Keeping major projects rolling makes sense

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The Liberal government of Mark Carney may be on the right track as they try to fast-track major projects.

The government’s One Canadian Economy Act  is upsetting some of the very people who are responsible for hampering progress in Canada for decades.

Dominic LeBlanc, who might be in charge of the act, said, “For far too long major projects, whether energy transmission lines, critical mineral developments, pipelines or clean technology projects, have been stalled by assessments, challenges and overlapping and duplicative regulations.”

The CBC reported, “The prime minister has provided examples of projects that could be included on the list based on recommendations from Canada’s premiers. Ports, mines, renewable energy and oil and gas pipelines could make the list, he said.”

Many will find the bill to grant too much power to government. Cabinet can exempt national-interest projects from environmental laws and acts of Parliament.

It is for that reason the bill has been accused of employing Henry the XIII clauses, referring to an autocratic regime.

If every Indigenous group, every self-declared interest group, all provinces and half the academics in Canada have to be consulted and brought to agreement, no project will begin and no progress will ever be achieved.

While consulting is meant to provide expert advice and insights to foster growth and development, consulting is too often leveraged to halt or slow progress.

Used effectively and ethically, consultation can provide policymakers with accurate data and insights to make well-informed decisions while assisting in the creation of policies that address the needs and concerns of the people.

Too often by tapping into existing fears and biases, consultants can rally opposition to progressive changes, maintaining control through division and fear.

The CBC writes, “Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty told reporters that the bill does not do away with impact assessments and there are “multiple points” where First Nations and other groups can bring forward their concerns.”

Some fear that the bill allows for only a week to respond to a project. Perhaps that is too short, but decades of anti-pipeline obstruction needs to come to an end.

A Nanos poll shows 75% of Canadians support a cross-country pipeline. That’s enough consulting.

When political actions impede advancements, economic opportunities diminish, stifling innovation, job creation, and overall prosperity.

I did not vote for the Liberals, but they won the election and it is the elected government of the day that is empowered to make decisions, not every Tom, Dick and Sally who wants to jump on front of progress to get their unelected way.

One of the reasons the Bloc Quebecois is reticent about the bill is their concern over what they feel would be proper adherence to language laws, which is yet another way progress is inhibited in Canada.

If we are going to build a pipeline or mine precious minerals, let’s get to it. We can translate the documents later.

Could someone show Premier François Legault how to use Google translate?

The Liberals have a minority government, but Conservatives have indicated support for the bill.

It remains to see what will become of the bill and whether it brings about useful projects, but perhaps it is good to finally try to reverse the direction of a pendulum that has swung too far in the direction of paralysis by analysis.

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