The world is becoming a more uncertain place. Long-standing alliances are under strain, supply chains are shifting, and the rules-based international order is being tested in ways we have not seen in decades. For a trading nation like Canada, that matters. It goes directly to our economic security and, ultimately, to our sovereignty.
That is why, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, our focus is clear – protect our economy, diversify our trade, and build the strength we need here at home.
Diversification is no longer a nice-to-have. It is essential. Canada has what the world needs – energy, critical minerals, agricultural products, and advanced technologies. The challenge is making sure we are reaching more markets, building stronger partnerships, and not relying too heavily on any one country.
Supplied photo
Churchill is more than a port – it is a strategic northern gateway, with the potential to open new trade routes and connect Canadian products to global markets in new ways.
Recent experience has only reinforced that point. Unjustified and unfair tariffs on Canadian goods have shown, in very practical terms, the risks of overdependence. They are a reminder that we need to keep opening new doors and strengthening relationships with partners around the world.
That work is underway. Canada is expanding commercial ties with major economies such as China and India, creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers. These efforts are about opening markets, attracting investment, and making sure Canadian products can compete and succeed globally.
At the same time, we are strengthening our economy from within.
Across the country, and here in Manitoba, that means building the infrastructure that allows us to get our products to market. Manitoba has always been an exporting province in an exporting nation. From agriculture to energy to manufacturing, we supply what the world is looking for.
We have a clear Prairie advantage. Our region is rich in the critical minerals that will power the economy of the future – from batteries to clean technologies to advanced manufacturing. As global demand grows, we are well positioned to help lead.
That potential depends on getting our resources to market.
That is where projects like the Port of Churchill come in. Churchill is more than a port – it is a strategic northern gateway, with the potential to open new trade routes and connect Canadian products to global markets in new ways. Strengthening the Hudson Bay rail line and northern supply chains is not just about economics. It is also about Arctic sovereignty and long-term northern development.
More broadly, we are advancing nation-building projects across the country – the kinds of projects identified under the Building Canada Act. From northern gateways to trade corridors and energy infrastructure, these projects will connect Canadian resources to global markets and create good jobs here at home.
We are also doing this work differently. That means reducing red tape, making decisions more efficiently, and ensuring projects move forward with clarity and certainty – while upholding strong environmental protections and the high labour standards Canadians expect.
At the same time, Indigenous partnerships are increasingly at the centre of how major projects are developed. Communities are not just being consulted – they are partners and owners. Over time, through employment, contracting, and equity participation, this approach is helping build lasting economic capacity across the Prairies and across Canada.
And as we build, Canadians are doing their part as well. Choosing to buy Canadian – to support our workers, our producers, and our industries – is one more way we strengthen our economy in uncertain times.
Canada has real advantages. We are rich in natural resources. We have a skilled workforce, strong institutions, and a reputation as a reliable partner.
In a more volatile world, those strengths matter.
The road ahead will not be easy. But the direction is clear – invest at home, expand abroad, and build an economy that is more resilient, more diversified, and more sovereign.
That is how we build a stronger Canada.
Terry Duguid
Winnipeg South MP constituency report
Terry Duguid is the Liberal MP for Winnipeg South.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.