Canada’s picturesque Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler, British Columbia, stretches 75 miles through soaring scenery. One of my favorite drives, the route takes travelers from sea level to an elevation of 2,200 feet, with nearby peaks rising more than four times higher. Canada’s economic ascent during the latter part of the 20th century was similarly impressive. The country remained one of the world’s strongest economies through the global recession of 2009.
But things took a different turn over the past decade. With the rise of climate politics, the anti-fossil fuel Paris Agreement and the accompanying net-zero movement pushed Canada’s hydrocarbon sector out of favor.
Now, in 2026, economic realities are reasserting themselves, and Canada appears to be returning to more pragmatic energy policies. Provinces have begun taking steps to expand oil and gas production and exports.
That renewed focus is reflected in a growing willingness to revisit projects that had stalled because of regulatory hurdles. Policymakers are speaking less about restricting hydrocarbon development and more about meeting global energy demand. That marks a departure from the federal government’s longstanding policies toward the sector, as well as similar positions previously held by some provincial leaders.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member