However, these resources are located in central Canada (Alberta and Saskatchewan), far away from the coast. To make these raw materials available for export to Asian countries, Canada must build logistics corridors that can transport these raw materials to the coast. It also needs to build ports and terminals to ship the raw materials.
Source: Getty Images
Canada’s nation-building efforts in 2026
As the United States resumes exporting Venezuelan oil, it has become necessary for Canada to diversify trading partners. The government focuses its budget and resources on infrastructure development, and the Prime Minister meets with other countries to sign new trade agreements.
Last year we saw the announcement of the budget for infrastructure development, new legislation and the creation of a special government office to speed up the implementation of major projects. This year you saw new orders coming in around the major projects approved by the government. You could see the signing of trade agreements, consolidation in the minerals and mining industries, as major players expand their capacity.
All these nation-building efforts could create opportunities for the Canadian economy to ride the wave of cyclical growth. Here are three TSX stocks that could see some upside in 2026 from all trading developments.
Canadian mining stocks in focus
Cameco (TSX:CCO) is the world’s second largest uranium producer, accounting for 17% of global uranium supply. Uranium is a fuel for nuclear power plants. This is a volatile sector as each nuclear incident impacts nuclear expansion plans. For example, Cameco’s revenues declined between 2015 and 2021 after the 2011 Fukushima incident.
Growing demand for clean energy, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence, has reinvigorated the expansion of nuclear power. Meanwhile, Cameco is expanding vertically in the supply chain. It provides fuel services by refining uranium and converting it into fuel for nuclear power plants. In collaboration with Brookfield Asset Management, Cameco has acquired a 49% stake in nuclear power plant builder Westinghouse Electric.
In November 2025, Westinghouse won an $80 billion contract from the US government to build civilian nuclear reactors. This caused Cameco’s shares to rise more than 60% between November and January 2026. As reported in a Forbes In a February 1, 2026 article, Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit India in March to discuss a 10-year uranium supply agreement. Cameco’s stock price could rise if this deal, and more like it, materialize.
Bird construction
Bird construction (TSX:BDT) is a cyclical stock benefiting from Canada’s infrastructure boom. The construction company’s share price rose 400% between October 2022 and October 2024 thanks to strong project execution that increased operating cash flow at a compound annual growth rate of 47%. This growth does not include Canadian investments in nation building.
The new federal funding provides new growth opportunities for Bird Construction. The stock is trading near its all-time high, suggesting investors have already priced in the $10 billion gap. However, there are more growth opportunities over the next three to five years, making it a stock to buy on any dip.
TC Energy
The timing to divest the oil pipeline business couldn’t have been perfect TC Energy (TSX:TRP). Leveraging its strength in natural gas pipeline construction, the company brought $8.3 billion worth of projects online, more than 15% under budget. Its supply is rising as North America experiences record energy demand from data centers, coal-to-gas conversions and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. TC Energy expects North American natural gas demand to increase from 45 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2025 to approximately 170 Bcf/d in 2035.
The stock is up 75% since October 2024, post-spinoff, on the back of the energy infrastructure rally. Canada’s efforts to expedite major projects, including the LNG Canada Phase 2 Project, will support increased LNG export capacity. TC Energy is a stock you can buy during the summer seasonal dip and hold for the long term.
#TSX #stocks #drive #Canadas #nationbuilding #efforts