Why Canada needs to get busy building

PPF’s Executive Director, Economic and Energy Policy Jay Khosla appeared at the Senate Committee of the Whole to discuss Bill C-5, the government’s ‘one Canadian economy‘ legislation. Here are his remarks about the urgency of getting big energy and infrastructure projects moving and why it’s a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ for Canada:

Let’s begin by acknowledging Canada is at a crossroads. We have the resources, talent and global demand — but we’re not building energy, infrastructure and critical mineral projects fast enough. 

We wrote the report Build Big Things a few months ago with urgency, because PPF believes this is not just a moment of transition. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape our economic future and secure prosperity for all Canadians. 

Build Big Things is the PPF’s call to action, a roadmap to unlock hundreds of billions investment, attract global capital and fast-track nation-building projects. We launched it in response to a sharp drop in investment and the urgent need for a bold, coordinated strategy to move projects forward. 

What we call “The Playbook” outlines 10 Essential Plays that taken together will ensure that key projects will rapidly advance.  The Playbook’s premise is that if we build big things, Canada can reduce its reliance on the U.S. market, become a trusted global supplier of energy and critical minerals, meet our climate goals and strengthen the infrastructure that connects our country and supports our sovereignty.

Why Building Big Things Matters: Economic Growth & Energy Security 

Let me start with the “why.”  

Donald Trump provided Canada with a needed wake up call. Canada must expand its market access and strengthen federal-provincial cooperation to stay competitive. Yet investment in major projects is falling — despite our massive potential.  

Navius Research modelled over $600 billion in proposed projects that could add $1.1 trillion to GDP by 2035 — a 4.5% increase. That’s real growth — driven by Canadian resources, Canadian workers, and Canadian leadership. And, we have the expertise to do it!  Projects of this nature can and will have considerable GDP impacts.

I would add it’s not just about growth — it’s about critical mineral supply chain security as well as addressing our climate goals. This is about being bold, strategic, entrepreneurial and globally competitive. 

Alignment with Bill C-5 and the Government’s Fast-Track Agenda 

The good news is that momentum is being built across governments to accelerate the identification and approval of nation-building projects.  

As a convenor, the Public Policy Forum works to bring a coherent and unifying perspective to the major issues shaping Canada’s future such as the reports findings. In the broadest consultation we’ve ever undertaken — engaging federal and provincial governments, regulators, Indigenous groups, and industry across the country — we identified four key and specific levers that if aligned effectively will unlock investment and drive national growth. They are: 

• Financing — to de-risk projects and attract private capital.
• Regulation — that is clear, fast, and environmentally effective.
• Enabling Infrastructure — such as transmission, roads, ports, and the workforce to support major builds.
• Indigenous economic participation — critical; real equity and capital access from day one. 

These are practical steps. They’re achievable. And they’re aligned with some of the direction set out in Bill C-5: 

• Identifying major nation-building projects upfront.
• Adopting “one project, one review” led by the Federal Major Projects Office.
• Setting a firm two-year regulatory approval window.
• Shifting Government culture: from “Why approve?” to “How can we approve responsibly?”

To build on this momentum, we also need a clear vision and culture shift — including a national target for GDP growth per capita to guide and measure our progress.  That is mission critical! 

Implementation Will Make or Break This 

This legislation is a vital first step, but implementation depends on strong partnerships — across governments and with Indigenous peoples. That’s where major projects have succeeded.

Our Playbook offers a path forward, but the details matter. To truly unlock investment, implementation needs to include the Playbook’s 10 Essential Plays. I will highlight three of these key recommendations that would enhance the Bill’s implementation:

First, we need strong, accountable governance — starting with the Prime Minister on down. A dedicated Deputy Ministers’ committee that meets regularly, backed by a Cabinet committee, should drive coordination and delivery. When governments are disciplined, focused, aligned, and committed, things can move fast — as we’ve seen during the Covid period and now is the time.

Second, we need to sort out the alphabet soup of federal funding programs. Right now, project proponents and Indigenous peoples are bounced from the CIB to the SIF to the CGF to EDC — and back again. This process needs coordination. We need a single front door to package the right mix of loans, guarantees and incentives.

Third, we need a Strategic Investment Office — not just a regulatory office. It should be a whole-of-government team that aligns financing, regulatory approvals, broader infrastructure, and Indigenous participation under one roof, with the financial expertise to assess projects and deliver value for public dollars. And, that will drive public-private partnerships. 

Finally, how this Bill is implemented will determine whether it delivers.

It will take strong, sustained leadership at every level of government — and a fundamental culture shift within the Public Service. One that values collaboration over silos, rewards speed and problem-solving, and shifts from a mindset of risk avoidance to one of opportunity seeking and nation-building.  This will also require a myriad of project development expertise and skills.

Implementation isn’t the fine print. It is the outcome.

In closing, Build Big Things and Bill C-5 share the same goal — a Canada that builds faster, competes harder and grows the strongest economy in the G7. But we won’t get there with half-measures. We need a fully committed, integrated, investor-ready and Indigenous-inclusive approach. 

This is Canada’s moment. As we wrote in the report — inspired by the movie Friday Night Lights — “Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose.” 

Watch the full appearance here.

Also this week, Yiota Kokkinos, Senior Executive Advisor at PPF and former Director General at Resources Canada, took a similar message to the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, which is examining Bill C-5. Read her key testimony here.

Subscribe to PPF’s Build Big Things newsletter — nation-building news delivered to your inbox every Friday morning.