OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to initiate construction on at least two pipelines within a year of taking office. This request follows the recent passage of Carney's first significant legislation, the "One Canadian Economy" bill, which aims to streamline the approval process for major infrastructure projects.

At a press conference in Calgary, Poilievre addressed concerns about the timeline for these projects. "Now you might say, this is too ambitious, how could you possibly get a pipeline under construction in mere months?" he stated. He referenced Carney's previous remarks, saying, "Well, he’s been in office already since last March, and he said, and I quote, ‘we need to think big and act bigger. We need to do things previously thought impossible possible at speeds we haven’t seen in generations.’ I couldn’t agree more."

Carney's commitment to expedite project approvals is part of his strategy to strengthen Canada’s economy amid economic pressures from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has imposed tariffs on Canadian goods. Recently, Trump raised the tariff rate on a wide range of Canadian products from 25 percent to 35 percent. However, exemptions are available for goods that comply with the free-trade agreement between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.

Despite these exemptions, U.S. tariffs of 50 percent remain on Canadian steel and aluminum, and 25 percent on automotive products that do not meet the free trade agreement criteria. Poilievre criticized Carney, claiming he has "broken his promise" to secure a favorable deal with Trump, despite campaigning on his ability to manage relations with the U.S. president.

The latest tariff increase came after Canadian officials failed to reach an agreement by the August 1 deadline, which followed an earlier deadline of July 21. Carney has indicated that negotiations with the U.S. will continue. He faces differing opinions from provincial leaders regarding potential retaliatory measures against U.S. tariffs. Ontario Premier Doug Ford supports further retaliation, while Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe advocates for lifting countermeasures to facilitate a deal.

Poilievre reiterated that Conservatives believe Canada should strategically target countermeasures on American products that maximize pressure on the U.S. while minimizing impact on Canadian businesses. He called for Carney to ensure that construction begins on two pipelines, a new liquefied natural gas project, and a road to the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region in northern Ontario by March 14, 2026. This date marks the first anniversary of Carney's swearing-in as prime minister after winning the Liberal leadership race.

"We need shovels in the ground, and we need deadlines to make those shovels dig and get things done," Poilievre said. He emphasized that Carney can achieve this while fulfilling the federal government's obligation to consult with First Nations under Section 35 of the Constitution.

As Poilievre made his statements, Carney was meeting with Métis leaders in Ottawa to gather feedback and address concerns regarding the government's infrastructure plans. This meeting was the third session Carney has held with Indigenous rights holders, following discussions with Inuit and First Nations leaders.

Some First Nations leaders have expressed strong opposition to Carney's plan to expedite major projects, arguing that the bill was rushed through without adequate time for input and without guarantees that their treaty rights would be respected. Carney has promised ongoing consultations and stated that his plan offers significant opportunities for job creation and economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities. The federal government has not yet announced which projects will be eligible for the expedited approval process.