I am pleased to introduce this important playbook from the Public Policy Forum. It arrives at a crucial moment for Canada. As PPF's Energy Future Forum notes, our country stands at a crossroads, with an opportunity to rebalance our economy, drive sustainable growth, and meet the pressing demands of a changing world. This is not merely a moment of transition; it is a generational opportunity to redefine our economic landscape and secure a prosperous future for all Canadians.

In my work at Mokwateh, I am dedicated to advancing Indigenous-led prosperity and building durable bridges between Indigenous Nations, governments, unions and industry. As PPF articulates, Indigenous voices are not peripheral; we are central to shaping Canada's future. The challenges we face — from energy security and infrastructure development to climate action — cannot be solved without meaningful Indigenous partnership and leadership. Our values, our prosperity and our inherent rights are not mere considerations; they are the bedrock upon which a sustainable and equitable future must be built.

The 10 essential plays outlined in this document provide a playbook for prosperity. However, a great playbook requires a great team to deliver success. Unions want jobs for their members; industry wants projects built; and Indigenous communities want to share in the prosperity that we are all working towards. The key will be in how the team will be brought together; it will require a shared understanding that these projects represent win-win-wins. That is how we will build durable partnerships and coalitions for success. Using this playbook, let's work together, early and often, to build these coalitions for success and reduce the barriers to benefits for all partners.

Last December, the government of British Columbia accomplished something too few governments in Canada have managed in recent years: It got out of the way. The province approved nine new energy projects that included Indigenous equity ownership of more than 25 percent and then shifted the permitting process entirely to the BC Energy Regulator, significantly accelerating development. Several other projects involving transmission lines, mining for critical minerals, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports are also being considered for fast-tracking. In May, Nova Scotia announced its own overhaul of project assessments by cutting timelines from over 240 days to just 50 to speed up the province's transition to clean energy, fight climate change, grow the economy and support sustainable development.

This is how governments get vital projects to the final investment decision (FID) much more quickly.

This crucial moment for Canada is beset by daunting challenges, but also ripe with enormous opportunity. In addition to the immediate threat of a hostile turn toward tariffs and threats of annexation by its primary trading partner, Canada faces significant long-term challenges, including the need to expand energy production to meet growing domestic and global demand, decarbonize its energy system to fulfill international climate commitments, address declining productivity, and strengthen its overall growth trajectory. At the same time, shifts in the global energy mix and the dramatic reconfiguration of the economic and geopolitical order provide a rare chance for Canada to scale up its own ambitions, harness its abundant natural resources, and get its economic house in much better order — tasks that are long overdue.

The 10 essential plays outlined in this document provide a playbook for prosperity. However, a great playbook requires a great team to deliver success. Unions want jobs for their members; industry wants projects built; and Indigenous communities want to share in the prosperity that we are all working towards. The key will be in how the team will be brought together; it will require a shared understanding that these projects represent win-win-wins. That is how we will build durable partnerships and coalitions for success. Using this playbook, let's work together, early and often, to build these coalitions for success and reduce the barriers to benefits for all partners.

The 10 essential plays outlined in this document provide a playbook for prosperity. However, a great playbook requires a great team to deliver success. Unions want jobs for their members; industry wants projects built; and Indigenous communities want to share in the prosperity that we are all working towards. The key will be in how the team will be brought together; it will require a shared understanding that these projects represent win-win-wins. That is how we will build durable partnerships and coalitions for success. Using this playbook, let's work together, early and often, to build these coalitions for success and reduce the barriers to benefits for all partners.