The Great Reset Comes to Ottawa

What Mark Carney’s Vision Could Mean for Canada



When the World Economic Forum first introduced the idea of “The Great Reset” during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, most Canadians paid little attention. A plan to rebuild the world better? Sounds nice, but vague.

Fast forward to 2025, and the Reset is no longer just an idea. It's a policy. And it’s got a new champion: Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney.

Whether you're intrigued, skeptical, or somewhere in between, one thing’s clear: the Great Reset has landed in Ottawa. So what does that mean for everyday Canadians?

What Exactly Is the Great Reset?

You’ve probably heard the phrase “The Great Reset” thrown around sometimes with hope, other times with suspicion. But what is it, really?

At its simplest, The Great Reset is a proposal that came out of the World Economic Forum (WEF) , the same group of global leaders, business elites, and academics that meets each year in Davos, Switzerland.

The idea started gaining traction in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pitch was this:

“Since the world is already going through major upheaval, why not use this chance to rebuild our economic systems into something better?”

What Are They Trying to Reset?

The “reset” isn’t about hitting a magic button. It’s more like steering a big ship in a new direction. Here's what they're talking about changing:

  1. The Economy

    • Moving away from old-school capitalism that only focuses on profit

    • Making big companies answer to communities and the planet, not just shareholders

  2. The Environment

    • Using green energy, clean tech, and carbon pricing to fight climate change.

    • Building “net-zero” economies that don’t add more carbon than they remove.

  3. Technology and Society

    • Digitizing more systems like money, healthcare, and public services

    • Making economies more “inclusive” so wealth isn’t just concentrated at the top

The big message? We can’t go back to “normal” — because “normal” wasn’t working for everyone.

Who Is Mark Carney?

Mark Carney isn’t your typical politician. He’s a former Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. He’s been a global leader in climate finance and even wrote a book, Value(s), arguing that markets should reflect moral values, not just profit.

Now, as PM, Carney has the chance to bring his long-held ideas about “resetting” capitalism into Canadian law.

Two Competing Visions: Hopes and Fears

Let’s break down the two main narratives around the Great Reset and what they could mean for you.

✅ The Optimist’s View: Green, Just, and Digital

Under this lens, the Great Reset is a positive leap forward. Expect:

  • Green energy projects to drive jobs and reduce emissions

  • Universal broadband and investment in digital public services

  • Smarter, fairer capitalism that balances growth with ethics

  • Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) that could reduce fees and modernize the banking system

In this version of the future, Canada becomes a 21st-century leader.

⚠️ The Skeptic’s View: Technocracy and Control

Others see danger. For them, the Reset brings:

  • Centralized control by global elites, not citizens

  • More surveillance and data tracking through digital IDs and currencies

  • Reduced personal freedoms under climate mandates or banking changes

  • Marginalization of rural, working-class, or fossil-fuel-based communities

This group worries that “you’ll own nothing and be happy” isn’t a prediction, it’s a warning.

What Might Actually Change?

Now that Carney’s in office, here’s what we could realistically see:

  • Green bonds and climate-focused investment policies

  • New digital currency infrastructure through the Bank of Canada

  • Partnerships between government and Big Tech or finance

  • Expansion of digital identity systems

  • Carbon pricing schemes that link into financial and industry systems

Also: political blowback, especially in resource-heavy provinces that may feel targeted or left behind.

What This Means for Canadians

🌱 Sustainability Efforts

Under the Great Reset’s emphasis on climate change, we could see:

  • Increased green energy investment: Think solar, wind, electric vehicles, and sustainable farming practices.

  • Stronger carbon regulations: For industries that rely on fossil fuels (like oil, gas, and heavy manufacturing), this might mean stricter laws or higher taxes on emissions. The idea is to push businesses toward cleaner alternatives, but that could be a tough pill for some Canadians to swallow, especially in provinces like Alberta, where oil and gas are economic backbones.

For the average Canadian, the Reset could feel like it’s making the world cleaner. But it could also drive up costs for energy, transportation, and even food if farmers are pressured to adopt sustainable practices.

🏙️ Digital Transformation

The Reset’s drive for digitization could bring some big changes to everyday life:

  • Online healthcare services: More accessible, but could be harder for some people without reliable internet.

  • Digital currency: Canada could roll out its own central bank digital currency (CBDC), which would make payments faster and cheaper. However, it also raises questions about privacy and control over personal data.

  • Smart cities: More tech in cities could improve public transportation, energy efficiency, and even access to services, but it could also lead to more surveillance and control over personal information.

💼 Work and Inequality

Carney’s Reset also targets inequality, but it’s still unclear whether it will help regular Canadians or just the elites:

  • Job retraining: There may be more funding for programs that help workers transition to green jobs. But what happens to those who can’t make the shift?

  • Wealth redistribution: More taxes on the rich or corporations could help fund social programs. But critics argue this could hurt businesses and workers in the long run if taxes are raised too much.

Some Canadians may feel left out of the Reset, especially in rural areas or industries that rely on traditional energy. The worry is that these regions may fall behind as big cities and tech hubs get the lion's share of investment.

Final Thought: Who’s Building the Future?

Like it or not, the Great Reset is here. But the future it shapes will depend on how and by whom it’s implemented.

Will this be a bold redesign of an outdated system, or a shiny mask for centralized control? Canadians will need to pay attention, speak up, and shape the answer together.

Because no matter what’s being built, we all have a right to ask: who gets to build it?

For more stories on global shifts and local impacts, subscribe to Good News Week (GNW).

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