Heather Exner-Pirot on what to watch out for in the federal budget – Resource Works

Nov. 3, 2025

As MPs weigh cuts and capital, investors want rules that let them actually build.

The minority Liberal government’s fall budget faces a decisive vote on Tuesday, with the outcome set to shape the fate of Canada’s fast-track agenda for ports, mines, energy and power lines. With the NDP open to abstentions and the Conservatives non-committal, the numbers remain fluid, but the policy stakes for major projects are clear.

Heather Exner-Pirot, Director of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, says investors are watching whether Ottawa can align its budget with a credible build-out plan. In an interview with Resource Works, she summed up the mood bluntly: “Everyone’s just waiting for the budget.”

On whether any barriers to building had actually been removed yet, Exner-Pirot was clear: “There are 520 major projects in the major projects inventory, and what have they done to make those easier to develop? Nothing yet, right?”

Read More: https://resourceworks.com/heather-exner-pirot-on-what-to-watch-out-for-in-the-federal-budget/