The Inside Scoop: What is Government Thinking about Infrastructure in 2026?

No one would say we live in uneventful political times. 2025 saw elections in Ottawa, Ontario and Newfoundland that yielded significant, and in some cases unexpected results. A Quebec election in 2026 could bring federalism back into the spotlight after three decades. The Trump administration in the United States continues to reshape trade policy. NATO countries find themselves rearming while conflicts continue in Eastern Europe and simmer elsewhere around the globe.

Infrastructure continues to be a core policy tool of governments across Canada to address all of these challenges. The potential agenda includes new pipelines to foster energy independence, a reconsideration of fossil fuel development after years of restraint due to climate concerns, new military bases and deep water ports to meet NATO commitments, small modular reactor development to meet growing power demand and new roads and water facilities to open the North to mining of critical minerals. Governments are rolling out new cash and new initiatives to get shovels in the ground on these projects – including the federal government’s Major Projects Office.

In the midst of these developments we consider it timely to once again convene our panel of government relations and political experts to consider the question: What are governments across Canada thinking about infrastructure? We are pleased to invite you to join us for this discussion.

Speakers:

• Brad Nicpon, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault
• Jan O'Driscoll, Partner, Rubicon Strategy 
• Awanish Sinha, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault
• Andrea van Vugt, Chief Operating Officer, Wellington Advocacy

Note: The panel discussion will take place in our Toronto office and via webinar, please select your preferred location when registering. All instructions and information on how to access the webinar will be sent two business days before the event.

For questions about this event, please contact clientevents@mccarthy.ca.

This program qualifies for up to 1.5 hours of CPD credit under the mandatory education regimes in British Columbia and Ontario.

Barreau du Québec Continuing Education: This program contains up to 1.5 hours of content. For more information regarding the declaration and recognition of educational activities, please contact the Barreau du Québec.