Mark Carney, the new Prime Minister of Canada, has completed his initial six months in office. Many Canadians initially viewed him as a substantial leader, a contrast to his predecessor. However, the expectations for significant change have not yet materialized.

The Buffalo Project has launched an advertising campaign and a website to assess whether Canadians are experiencing real improvements in their social and economic conditions. The current unemployment rate stands at 7.1 percent, with 66,000 jobs lost in August and 41,000 in July. Youth unemployment is particularly concerning, reaching approximately 14 percent. After a decade of minimal economic growth, the economy has begun to contract in 2025.

While it may be unfair to place all the blame on Carney, he promised voters on election night that his government would achieve "things previously thought impossible at speeds we haven’t seen in generations." However, the reality has not aligned with this ambitious rhetoric.

In an effort to support his vision, Parliament passed the Building Canada Act, which allows the Carney government to expedite certain projects deemed in the national interest by bypassing some regulatory processes. This is a small step toward improving economic conditions. However, many in Western Canada are frustrated by Carney's reluctance to repeal policies from the previous administration that hindered resource development.

Critics argue that it would be more effective to implement sensible environmental impact assessment rules rather than allowing a select cabinet to determine what constitutes the national interest. The first five projects approved under this new framework did not include any oil pipelines.

Heather Exner-Pirot from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute criticized the government for blaming the private sector while maintaining restrictive policies such as a tanker ban and emissions cap. She stated, "It’s just very disingenuous to keep a tanker ban, emissions cap and burdensome impact assessment legislation in place and then blame a lack of a proponent on the business case."

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith emphasized the potential of Canada's oil and gas resources to improve the economy. She highlighted that Alberta's oil sands could create thousands of jobs and generate significant economic benefits.

Carney's administration has also faced criticism for maintaining clean electricity regulations that may lead to higher power bills in provinces with limited hydro resources, such as Alberta and Saskatchewan. Additionally, the plastics ban and amendments to the Competition Act from the previous government are seen as obstacles to investment in the energy sector.

Despite Carney's hopeful rhetoric, many Canadians are still waiting for the necessary policy reforms to stimulate economic growth. His agenda has been perceived as lackluster, and significant changes may not occur until he addresses the concerns raised by various stakeholders.