anadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday announced the first projects to be reviewed by the country’s new Major Projects Office (MPO), a unit designed to speed up regulatory approvals and attract investment to large-scale energy and infrastructure developments.
The initial five projects, worth more than C$60-billion, range from liquefied natural gas and nuclear power to critical minerals and port expansion. Ottawa said they are expected to create thousands of jobs, strengthen supply chains and position Canada as a reliable global supplier of resources and clean energy technologies.
“At this moment of transformative change, Canada’s new government is focused on delivering major projects to connect our communities, empower Canadian workers, and build Canada’s strength,” Carney said. “With the first in a series of new projects, we will build big, build now, and build Canada strong.”
The projects include LNG Canada’s planned Phase 2 expansion in Kitimat, British Columbia; Ontario’s Darlington New Nuclear Project, which would make Canada the first G7 country with an operational small modular reactor; an expansion of the Port of Montreal; Foran Mining’s McIlvenna Bay copper/zinc project in Saskatchewan; and an expansion at the Red Chris copper mine in British Columbia.
McIllvenna Bay will create 400 jobs, boost local economies in Saskatchewan and Quebec, where the copper will be smelted, and is expected to be the first net-zero copper project in Canada. The expansion of Red Chris Mine will extend the lifespan of the mine by over a decade, increase Canada’s yearly copper production by 15%, employ about 800 workers during operations, with a peak of about 1 500 workers during construction, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 70% when operational.
The MPO was launched last month under the Building Canada Act and will aim to reduce approval timelines for projects deemed of national interest to a maximum of two years, adopting a “one project, one review” approach. It will also work to coordinate financing in partnership with provinces, Indigenous Peoples and private investors.
“This is a defining moment for Canada. To get to ‘one project, one review, one decision’ will set Canada apart globally and will attract enormous inflows of capital,” said MPO CEO Dawn Farrell.
The federal government also unveiled longer-term concepts under consideration, including a high-speed rail link between Toronto and Quebec City, expanded wind power in Atlantic Canada, and an Arctic Economic and Security Corridor.
Indigenous participation is central to the initiative, with the government naming members of an Indigenous Advisory Council to guide MPO decisions and expanding an Indigenous Loan Guarantee Programme to C$10-billion.
“Major projects must and will deliver lasting benefits for Indigenous Peoples – not just in words, but in jobs, ownership, and opportunities,” said Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations.
Together, the projects and proposals highlight Ottawa’s ambition to boost Canada’s economic sovereignty and competitiveness. “Today’s announcement is a leap forward in achieving those results in a responsible, strategic way so we can transform how we build in this country for today and into the future,” said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson.