In a significant setback for Canada's economic ambitions, global fertilizer giant Nutrien has announced it will build a new billion-dollar potash export terminal in Washington state, after the federal government showed little interest in facilitating a Canadian location.
A Lost Economic Opportunity
The decision represents a major lost opportunity for Canada's economy and undermines Prime Minister Mark Carney's repeated promises about his Major Projects Office (MPO). Nutrien, the world's largest potash mining company based in Saskatoon, had expressed willingness to build the terminal in either Vancouver or Prince Rupert earlier this year.
According to company sources, the Liberal government simply wasn't interested in pursuing the project, despite it meeting all the criteria Carney has established for "nation-building" initiatives. The terminal would have increased GDP, created jobs, and required no government funding - being entirely privately financed.
Canada's Potash Dominance at Risk
The move is particularly concerning given Canada's position as the world's largest potash producer, responsible for approximately one-third of global supply. Canadian potash exports are valued between $9 billion and $11 billion annually, making it the country's fifth-largest export commodity, with expectations for continued growth over the next two decades.
Potash serves as a key component in agricultural fertilizer, with rising worldwide demand from farming operations in China, India, Japan, and other nations. Beyond its economic value, potash represents one of Canada's most powerful levers in international trade negotiations.
Political Convenience Over Economic Growth
The Nutrien situation reveals what critics are calling the true nature of Carney's MPO - more focused on political optics than delivering actual results. Of the ten projects announced by the Prime Minister so far, most were already through the assessment process or substantially underway, making them easy victories for political credit.
By contrast, the Nutrien terminal would have required genuine effort - navigating permits and securing water-access sites. The company's announcement on Wednesday that it will build in Longview, Washington, just down the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, demonstrates that when faced with actual work versus easy political "strokes," the Carney government chose the latter.
This development directly contradicts Carney's pledge to double Canada's non-U.S. exports from approximately $300 billion to $600 billion annually. The failure to secure a project that perfectly aligns with this goal raises serious questions about the government's commitment to unleashing growth in the Canadian economy and attracting investment in resource industries and critical minerals.
