Meetings, meetings, and more meetings...

If Prime Minister Mark Carney could turn meetings into an Olympic sport, he’d be a gold medalist. At the recent Council of Federation meetings, the emphasis was on how well everyone gets along and how things are already in motion. Just trust the process, and results will follow. However, many Canadians -- myself included -- are still waiting for tangible outcomes.

(We also couldn't sit idly by and watch those in attendance ignore immigration, and we were thankful that pressure forced the premiers to address immigration yesterday.)

To be fair, I acknowledge that Carney has only been in office for a short time, so a comprehensive evaluation of his performance might be premature. That said, I find his approach heavy on rhetoric and light on action, though I sincerely hope he proves us wrong. The public is eager for concrete steps, not just promises. Here are some practical suggestions to move things forward.

• First, repeal Bill C-69, often called the "no more pipelines" bill, which creates uncertainty for investors. Despite premiers Ford, Smith, and Moe signing agreements to support pipeline construction and the development of rare earth mineral mines -- resources the world desperately needs -- potential investors remain skeptical without clear economic stability. And B.C., Quebec, and even Manitoba represent major potential road blocks to national projects. Investors are not swayed by symbolic gestures; they want policy changes that ensure predictability.
• Second, Carney should be upfront about Canada’s trade realities. While he claims to have held 90 bilateral meetings with countries interested in investing in Canada, the United States remains our most critical trading partner due to geographic proximity. The idea of drastically shifting exports from the U.S. to the European Union is unrealistic. Diversify, absolutely. But shipping costs to Europe and Asia are significantly higher, and geography will always play a decisive role in trade dynamics.
• Third, it’s time to address Canada’s outdated supply management system, particularly in Quebec, where farmers are protected by quotas that lead to millions of liters of milk being dumped annually. This system inflates prices for Canadians and hinders trade deals, especially with the U.S. A bold solution would be to buy out farmers’ quotas at full market value and guarantee their sales levels for 5 to 10 years. If their sales drop after the market opens, a formula-based compensation could make them whole. The cost of this buyout and transitional support would be a fraction of what Canadians currently pay for overpriced milk and other protected products.

While the National Citizens Coalition strongly supports free markets, we recognize the need for pragmatic solutions in a fast-moving world. These issues don’t require endless meetings or self-congratulatory talk about progress. Working Canadians deserve decisive leadership and measurable results -- on cartels being torn down, immigration, crime, housing, healthcare, and getting energy projects built and out to market.

Together, we're changing the conversation, holding politicians to account, and expanding the social license for the projects and priorities we need to get this country back on track.

As our month-end approaches, we’re working to meet our fundraising goals and need your support. We’re aiming to raise $5,000 in the next week to fund our initiatives, including new industry-leading advertising and messaging. And we have some big news to come shortly that we're excited to share!

Please consider donating today and sharing our message with friends and colleagues who might also support the cause of Canadian renewal, and more freedom through less government. Thank you for your ongoing commitment. We never take it for granted.

Be well.

Sincerely,

Peter Coleman
President
National Citizens Coalition