EDITORIAL: Naysayers shrug as economy founders

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Canada has lost its nerve — and the consequences will be dire for our future if we cannot look to the future with courage.

In the face of economic headwinds caused by U.S. tariffs, this country must find new ways to develop our industries and resources.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is taking baby steps toward building pipelines and other national infrastructure. Bill C-39, which streamlines the approval process for major projects, passed its first parliamentary hurdle this week and was sent to committee.

It will come to nought if the naysayers get their way. We have a trinity of special interests — unions, environmentalists and Indigenous groups — who wring their hands and demand endless consultation anytime anyone tries to build a bold new project. Increasingly, this country is gaining a reputation globally as a place that can't get its act together when it comes to doing business.

Our economy was stalled even before the U.S. tariffs came into effect. A recent study by the Fraser Institute reveals the "underwhelming" economic performance of Canadian provinces compared to U.S. states in the first quarter of this century.

"Indeed, U.S. states generally outpaced Canadian provinces in terms of individual living standards, incomes, private sector employment as a share of total employment and productivity," says the report, titled Squandering the Canadian Century.

Between 1999 and 2024, only Newfoundland and Labrador ranked in the top half of all 60 states and provinces in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per person growth, while the remaining provinces were clustered near the bottom.

"Simply put, thus far in the 21st century, residents in most U.S. states have experienced greater improvement in their standard of living than residents in most Canadian provinces," says the study.

Nine Canadian provinces were in the bottom half of the 60 jurisdictions in income growth from 2010 to 2024. Alberta even experienced a decline in income over that period. While B.C. experienced the largest growth level in Canada, it still grew slower than 22 U.S. states.

As of 2024, median earners in every U.S. state enjoyed a higher income than median earners in every Canadian province, the report concluded.

Yet every attempt to kickstart the economy is met with hostility from special interest groups and overwhelming apathy from complacent Canadians.

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