{"id":2310,"date":"2026-04-09T13:01:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thechangemakers.com\/?post_type=insight&p=2310"},"modified":"2026-04-09T13:41:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:41:50","slug":"major-projects-run-on-public-confidence-not-just-public-funding","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/thechangemakers.com\/us\/insight\/major-projects-run-on-public-confidence-not-just-public-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"Major projects run on public confidence, not just public funding\u202f\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Major projects run on public confidence, not just public funding\u202f<\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Published: Calgary Herald April 7, 2026<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canada is entering a defining era of federal major projects that will shape our economy and our global competitiveness for decades. Prime Minister Mark Carney\u2019s major project announcements signal an ambition to accelerate nation-building infrastructure.\u202f\u00a0

The opportunity is as enormous as\u00a0the responsibility. These projects will not succeed\u00a0on\u00a0capital alone. They will succeed only if citizens are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that\u202fdetermine\u202fwhat gets built, where, and how.\u202f\u00a0

Too often public engagement is treated like a box to tick after the route is\u00a0picked,\u00a0the budget is set, and the press release is drafted. That approach is outdated and\u202fexpensive. It slows shovels, inflames conflict, ignores Indigenous Title and\u00a0Rights\u00a0and turns significant projects into symbols of mistrust.\u202f\u00a0

There\u2019s\u202fa\u202fmisconception that engagement slows things down.\u202fMajor\u202fprojects\u202foperate\u202fat the speed of trust. Done\u202fearly,\u202fit recognizes rights, helps surface concerns, hopes and opportunities before they harden into opposition.\u202f\u00a0

Consider the projects that dominate the Canadian imagination and investor spreadsheets. LNG in B.C. is framed as an export opportunity and geopolitical tool, particularly as allies seek reliable energy supply. High-speed rail, new transmission, nuclear projects, and carbon capture are pitched as the infrastructure of productivity and resilience. These projects can face\u202fcommunity opposition as they touch identity,\u202fjurisdiction, and intergenerational risk.\u202f\u00a0

Early and thoughtful public engagement can be the difference between lasting trust and mere compliance. Compliance is brittle and can be obtained by rushing a timeline or narrowing a comment period. Consent\u00a0stands\u00a0the test of time. It is earned through co-development and co-design with rights holders and through early conversations that shape decisions. When engagement happens\u202fearly, it reveals local knowledge that improves design, reduces environmental risk, and prevents avoidable cost overruns. When it happens downstream, it becomes a referendum on trust.\u202f\u00a0

We do not have to\u202fspeculate\u202fabout what happens when governments get ahead of their public. Ontario\u202frecently\u00a0floated\u202fthe idea of changing month-to-month \u201cevergreen\u201d leases, triggering swift backlash from tenants and housing advocates. Within days, the\u00a0Province\u00a0called off the proposed\u202fconsultations. That is what a hurried signal looks like in the real world: confusion first, outrage second, retreat third. The policy may not be a\u202fmegaproject\u00a0but the lesson is relatable. Decisions that land as surprises invite opposition that becomes a schedule, cost, and reputation problem.\u202f\u00a0

Now raise the stakes to a proposed major project within Indigenous territories. Here, engagement is not only\u202fbest\u202fpractice but a constitutional reality. Nations are rights holders with their own governments, laws, and priorities. Projects that treat Indigenous engagement as a risk-mitigation tactic miss the biggest opportunity on the table: shared decision making and prosperity built through equity participation,\u00a0procurement pathways, training pipelines, and stewardship models that reflect Indigenous knowledge and authority. Done well, this is reconciliation you can measure: jobs created, revenues shared, language and culture supported, and ecological outcomes strengthened.\u202f\u00a0

From\u202fracialized Canadians\u202fto\u202fnewcomers\u202fto\u202fpeople with disabilities, low-income communities, and beyond, engagement insights can reveal practical barriers and unintended consequences of a project.\u00a0

Carney\u2019s\u202fbold\u202fagenda\u202fmatched by billions\u00a0in\u00a0investments presents an opportunity. Canada can build fast and engage meaningfully at the same time.\u00a0

The International Association for Public Participation is refining its global guidelines for public engagement. The goal is clearer, faster decision-making\u202fand projects rooted in the voices of the people most affected.\u00a0

Engage\u202fearly.\u202fAgree on a shared vision.\u202fShare\u202finformation clearly. Put real options on the table.\u202fFund participation so communities are not asked to volunteer their capacity.\u202fRespect Indigenous\u202ftitle and rights. Then communicate with humility\u202fbecause Canadians can tell the difference between information and persuasion.\u202f\u00a0

That is how we turn major projects into collective national achievements.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n