The Liberal government will introduce legislation to assist in identifying projects in the national interest and provide “up-front regulatory approvals” to major projects, according to a federal document obtained by CBC News.
“Once a project is determined to be in the national interest, federal reviews will shift from ‘whether’ to build these projects to ‘how’ to best advance them,” the document reads.
“It will streamline multiple decision points for federal approval and minimize the risk of not securing project approval following extensive project work.”
The document was prepared by the Privy Council Office (PCO) and shared with Indigenous groups to outline the aims of proposed legislation. The PCO is the lead branch of the civil service, providing support to the prime minister and the cabinet.
The document states the legislation is likely to be introduced in early June. The Globe and Mail first reported this Thursday.
The legislation aims to create “a more flexible” regulatory framework for project approvals. Rather than a number of departments involved in the approval process, only one designated minister and department would be responsible for issuing a “conditions document” that would act as a project permit, the PCO document says.
In an exclusive interview with CBC’s Power & Politics this week, Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that approving “major projects” will be a priority for his government.
“We need to move on these nation-building projects. So projects that bring Canada together, projects that diversify our economy, projects that help us export to new markets and really move this economy forward,” Carney told host David Cochrane.
“The ask of provinces, the ask of the private sector is: Which projects do you have that reach those criteria? What we’re going to do is fast-track the approval.”
Asked by CBC’s Power & Politics host David Cochrane about the separatist sentiment in Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government is ‘committed’ to working with Canadians across the country.
The PCO document indicated that the government will consider a project within the national interest if it makes “an exceptional contribution to Canada’s prosperity, advances economic security, defence security and national autonomy through improved movement of goods, services and people.”
Project approval was a significant part of last week’s throne speech read by King Charles. The speech promised to “unleash a new era of growth” by creating a federal project review office and reducing regulatory reviews “from five years to two.”
Despite the proposed changes, the PCO document said fast-tracking project approvals will still respect the government’s legal obligations to Indigenous communities, specifically the duty to consult.
Environmental group concerned
Reacting to the document, which makes no mention of climate change or protecting nature, Greenpeace Canada issued a statement saying it raises concerns.
“Moving quickly shouldn’t mean moving in the wrong direction,” said the environmental group’s senior energy strategist, Keith Stewart.
“To truly honour the government’s commitment to uphold world-leading environmental standards and respect Indigenous rights, it should be focusing on projects that address climate change and the affordability crisis, rather than fast-tracking the expansion of harmful fossil fuels.”
“We need green grids and affordable homes, not new pipelines.”
The document mentions the need for “mines, nuclear facilities, ports,” but does not refer to low-carbon energy projects, such as a national electricity grid.
Carney told Power & Politics that “more needs to be done” to support Canada’s energy sector, but said the conversation should go beyond pipelines.
“Canadians, yes, they want energy pipelines that make sense. They also want connections between our clean grids. They want actually less carbon, so they want carbon capture and storage … they want broader [mineral exporting] corridors, for example … that open up whole swaths of the country to new trade so that we are sovereign in the most important components of the future,” the prime minister said.
“All of those things are possible.”
Carney is meeting with premiers next week and national projects are expected to be the main topic of discussion.
