Canada Fast-Tracks Five Major Projects Under C-5 Act, Including LNG Canada Expansion

On September 11, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government announced the first five national infrastructure projects that will be fast-tracked under Canada’s new C-5 legislation — a move intended to accelerate approvals for projects deemed to be in the national interest.

According to senior federal officials, the five projects are:

1. LNG Canada Expansion Project in Kitimat, British Columbia

2. A new Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, Ontario

3. The Port of Montreal expansion at Contrecoeur, Quebec

4. The Foran McIlvenna Bay copper mine in Saskatchewan

5. An expansion of the Red Chris copper-gold mine in B.C.

All five projects were included in a draft list of 32 projects obtained by The Globe and Mail. These selections mark the first wave of projects to benefit from the fast-track regulatory approval process enabled by the Building Canada Act, which was passed in June as part of Bill C-5.

The announcement will be formally made by Prime Minister Carney in Edmonton, alongside new strategies for developing more early-stage national interest projects.

What’s Not on the List?

The first list notably excludes any new oil pipelines, despite earlier drafts that considered a new line to transport Alberta crude to the Pacific Coast. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who met with Carney later in the day, expressed hope that pipeline projects will appear in future rounds, saying, “Don’t assume this is the final list.”

Smith emphasized that unless Ottawa repeals older regulations — notably the controversial Bill C-69 — private-sector proponents will be reluctant to propose major new energy infrastructure.

Oversight and Next Steps

These projects will be overseen by a newly formed Major Projects Office located in Calgary, headed by former TransAlta CEO Dawn Farrell. While listing a project grants it fast-track status, it does not guarantee federal funding.

The government also announced a strategic initiative covering six categories of early-stage projects with national transformation potential:

• Critical minerals

• Atlantic offshore wind

• Pathways Plus (carbon capture in Alberta)

• Arctic Economic & Security Corridor

• Churchill Plus (rail/port/energy upgrades in Manitoba)

• Alto High-Speed Rail

The goal is to initiate construction within five years for selected initiatives.

An Indigenous Advisory Committee will be established to guide the office, and direct consultation with Indigenous rights-holders will be required for any project approvals.

Criticism from the Opposition

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre sharply criticized the announcement, calling it “yet another layer of bureaucracy.”

He pointed out that Carney’s government has not approved a single nation-building project in six months, stating:

“All he’s doing is announcing an email to a yet-to-be-staffed office to someday consider five projects. That’s not leadership — that’s delay dressed up as action.”