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Two-in-five satisfied with projects announced, one-in-three unsatisfied, many not yet sure
September 23, 2025 – Prime Minister Mark Carney’s big reveal of the first five major projects to be built in the “national interest” is drawing mixed reviews from Canadians.
New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians responding to this initial list with a mix of positivity, disappointment and uncertainty. The good news for Carney and the Liberals is that the largest group say they are more satisfied than not with the project focus, which includes two in British Columbia and one each in Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. More than two-in-five (44%) say they are satisfied, though just nine per cent say they are “completely” satisfied. Alternatively, one-in-three (32%) are dissatisfied, while one-quarter (24%) say they are not sure. Despite the focus on four provinces, satisfaction levels are relatively even across the country, ranging from 38 per cent in Manitoba to 46 per cent in B.C., with the exception of Atlantic Canadians, who are more positive overall (54%).
Among those who are dissatisfied, the top concern is the absence of an oil and gas pipeline (43%). Approaching three-in-five (57%) say the Carney government needs to focus on fast-tracking more oil and gas development. Conservatives lead the way on this view (85%) but are joined by 45 per cent of Carney’s 2025 Liberal voters.
On broader fronts, Canadians are forming a picture of the Carney government less than six months into the Liberals’ minority mandate. ARI asked residents to weigh in on early progress and finds both positive and negative assessments.
Canadians are significantly more positive than negative on three files – improving relationships with non-U.S. trade partners (56% good job, 33% poor job), removing interprovincial trade barriers (46%, 35%) and strengthening Canada’s Armed Forces (45%, 30%). They are divided nearly equally on two – handling trade negotiations with Donald Trump (44%, 46%) and increasing private investment (31%, 35%). They are more negative on three others – reducing immigration (30% good job, 47% poor job), reducing spending on government operations (25%, 48%) and improving housing affordability (20%, 59%).
One of the major campaign pitches from then-Liberal candidate Mark Carney was to get Canada building again. Shortly after his party’s election victory, Carney shifted this rhetoric toward pushing major projects in the “national interest” – a key pillar of the One Canadian Economy Act, passed in June. Now, the government has announced the first five major projects. The projects set to be “fast-tracked” are:
- LNG Canada Phase 2 in B.C.
- Darlington New Nuclear Project in Ontario
- Contrecoeur Terminal Container Project at the Port of Montreal
- McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project in Saskatchewan
- Red Chris Mine expansion in B.C.
Initial response is mixed
Angus Reid Institute asked Canadians for their initial response to this list, finding positivity mixed with negativity and uncertainty. The largest group say they’re more satisfied than not with the list, while one-in-three are unsatisfied:
One might notice that the initial list features projects only in B.C., Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec. Despite this, there are no significantly higher or lower pockets of support or opposition in Canada, aside from elevated satisfaction in Atlantic Canada:
At least one-quarter of all party supporters say they’re satisfied with the list. While not an overwhelming show of support, this moderate level of non-partisanship would have been difficult to imagine in the later days of the Trudeau-era, as his approval dropped to two per cent in December of 2024 among CPC voters.
Within his own political base, two-thirds say they’re satisfied with the government’s initial focus on major projects:
*Unweighted sample sizes of 100+ weighted down to representative size. Interpret small sample sizes with caution
Those who are dissatisfied want more oil and gas development
The dissatisfied were offered a chance to share their rationale in a follow up question about these projects. Among those who were less impressed, the largest criticism is the lack of inclusion of an oil and gas pipeline. Pipeline projects have been politically difficult and financially dubious in recent year. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith noted on the absence of such a project that there is still “work to do to be able to get an environment where oil companies want to expand their production”.
Majority agree that oil and gas projects need the fast track
The sentiment expressed by these Canadians – that oil and gas development needs to be fast-tracked as well – is relatively popular across the country. In every region, more Canadians agree with this idea than disagree. That said, enthusiasm ranges from modest in Quebec to more intense in Alberta and Saskatchewan:
Unsurprisingly, Conservatives lead this push on this sentiment. That said, 2025 Liberal Party voters are divided, with 45 per cent adding their voice to the chorus:
Did these projects need government support?
Other critics of the slate of projects announced have suggested that the list is comprised of low hanging fruit, that is, projects that have already been approved or would be built regardless of government support. Asked about this line of reasoning, Canadians have no unified view. Close to equal numbers agree, disagree, and are not sure. In Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, residents are more skeptical.
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