Canada is at a defining economic moment. With growing global uncertainty, shifting trade relationships and increasing competition for investment, the federal government is rightly focused on building a stronger, more resilient and competitive economy.
Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, represents an important step in that direction.
“Bill C-39 will create the conditions needed for investment in projects that support jobs and economic growth, and improve the safe, secure, and efficient movement of goods across the country while protecting the environment and upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples,” according to a government backgrounder. “It will also support workers and fairer workplaces by modernising the federal labour relations framework and strengthening protections for workers in federally regulated industries. These measures represent the most ambitious and comprehensive reforms of federal approval processes in a generation, and will help position Canada to compete on the global stage.”
For rural Canada, there is much to welcome.
Rural communities are essential to Canada's prosperity. From agriculture and energy to forestry, mining, fisheries and manufacturing, rural industries produce the resources and products that Canadians and the world depend on.
The world needs rural Canada. And as Canada looks to strengthen its economic sovereignty, it needs rural Canada more than ever.
The opportunity presented by Bill C-39 is significant. But realizing its full potential will require ensuring rural communities are partners in Canada's economic growth.
Unlocking rural Canada's economic potential
One of the most promising elements of Bill C-39 is its focus on making Canada a more attractive place to invest and build.
The proposed one-year timeline for federal project reviews and decisions, once applications are complete, could provide greater certainty for businesses and investors. Improved coordination across federal departments could also reduce unnecessary duplication and delays.
For rural communities, where major investments in natural resources, energy and infrastructure can create jobs and sustain local economies, these improvements matter.
The legislation's focus on strengthening national trade corridors is equally encouraging.
Canada's supply chains begin in rural communities. Whether moving grain from Prairie farms, minerals from northern mines or forest products to international markets, reliable transportation infrastructure is fundamental to rural prosperity.
However, stronger national trade corridors must also mean stronger rural connections. Rural roads, bridges, regional rail networks and other infrastructure are essential to getting Canadian products to market.
Ensuring rural businesses can access these networks affordably and competitively will be critical to realizing the legislation's economic ambitions.
The importance of a rural lens
While Bill C-39 presents opportunities, its implementation must reflect the unique realities of rural, remote and northern communities.
Too often, federal policies are developed through an urban lens, without fully considering how they will affect rural businesses, municipalities and residents.
The consequences may be unintended, but they can be significant.
A streamlined regulatory process may benefit major project proponents while remaining difficult for smaller rural businesses to navigate. Accelerated development may create economic opportunities while placing additional pressure on local housing, infrastructure and municipal services.
Similarly, the proposed designation of Regions of National Interest could support more coordinated investment, but local communities must have a meaningful voice in shaping the development taking place around them.
This is why the Rural Prosperity Group continues to advocate for the systematic application of a rural lens to federal policies, programs and regulations.
A rural lens is a practical way to identify potential barriers, recognize opportunities and ensure that national policy decisions work for rural Canadians.
It means asking whether rural businesses can participate in new opportunities, whether municipalities have the capacity to support growth and whether economic benefits will be felt in the communities helping generate them.
Applying this approach to Bill C-39 would strengthen the legislation and help ensure its benefits are broadly shared.
A shared opportunity
Bill C-39 offers a welcome opportunity to strengthen Canada's competitiveness and unlock economic growth.
The Rural Prosperity Group supports efforts to reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers, attract investment and improve the infrastructure that connects Canadian businesses to markets.
We also believe the federal government can make these reforms even more effective by embedding a rural lens into their implementation and working directly with rural leaders, businesses, municipalities and Indigenous communities.
Rural Canada is ready to build, innovate and grow. Its industries, entrepreneurs and communities are central to Canada's economic future.
