Radha Curpen: Can Canada Still Build Big Projects?

Canada says this is the decade of energy security and trade diversification.But can we actually build the infrastructure to make that happen?In this episode of Power Struggle, Stewart Muir sits down with Radha Curpen, National Leader of McMillan LLP’s ESG and Sustainability Practice, to unpack what it really takes to deliver major projects in Canada today.From pipelines and transmission lines to ports, data centres and critical minerals, Curpen explains why modern infrastructure must pass three tests: legal legitimacy, social durability, and capital credibility.The conversation explores:• The Canada–Alberta Memorandum of Understanding and what it actually means • Why a west coast pipeline is possible — but far from inevitable • Alberta’s urgency vs. B.C.’s caution • Indigenous consultation, equity ownership, and economic reconciliation • Why some investors now describe B.C. as “uninvestable” • How duplication and regulatory complexity stall projects • Why governance — not politics — determines durabilityCurpen argues that project success depends on early planning, corridor thinking, relationship-building, and legal clarity. Equity is no longer just about revenue sharing — it’s about operational oversight, environmental accountability, and long-term value for Indigenous communities.At stake is more than one pipeline.It’s whether Canada can operate as a first-world economy — attracting capital, reconciling rights, and building nation-scale infrastructure in an era of polarization.This is a national test case.Send us Fan MailThe energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at [email protected]🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod