Construction proceeds at the BHP Jansen Potash Mine near Jansen, Sask., on Dec. 3, 2025.Heywood Yu/The Globe and Mail
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Canada has an unparalleled bounty at its disposal when it comes to natural resources, but there are many hurdles in the way of investors and governments creating big, nation-building projects.
Big natural resource projects are rare in Canada, thanks in part to long regulatory approvals, remote locations and high costs. Prime Minister Mark Carney is trying to change this national reputation and lure global investment by betting on the riches hidden beneath the soil.
There have been some promising projects in recent years. The $18-billion Jansen potash mine was the biggest investment in the history of Saskatchewan, and Brookfield Asset Management – based in New York but with Canadian roots – is trying to revive a nuclear megaproject based in South Carolina. The Liberals have said that up to 10 new major natural resource projects will be under way by this time next year, in an effort to boost the country’s economy.
Agriculture and food policy reporter Kate Helmore, investigative reporter Matthew McClearn, environmental, social, and corporate governance reporter Jeffrey Jones and mining reporter Niall McGee answered reader questions on Canada’s nation-building resource projects and the hurdles they face getting off the ground.
How can Canada attract foreign investors? Why are big projects harder to complete now than decades ago? Is investing in natural resources the key to economic independence in Canada? Read our responses below.