Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled the first group of developments to be reviewed by Canada’s new Major Projects Office on Thursday, positioning the unit as a keystone for speeding up approvals and unlocking capital for nation-building infrastructure.
The office aims to cut federal timelines for projects of national interest to a maximum of two years while coordinating with provinces and territories to achieve a single, unified review.
The announcement was made in Edmonton and framed as a push to strengthen growth, energy security, and trade competitiveness Prime Minister’s Office news release.
Five near-term files will move into the MPO’s process. In British Columbia, LNG Canada’s Phase 2 expansion in Kitimat would double output at the liquefied natural gas plant, which the government described as set to become one of the largest facilities of its kind globally.
The expansion is pitched as diversifying export markets and meeting rising demand for lower-emissions gas, with the release citing emissions projections well below typical global operations.
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In Ontario, the Darlington New Nuclear Project would make Canada the first G7 country to operate a grid-scale small modular reactor, according to the government.
The first of four planned SMR units is expected to provide clean electricity to roughly 300,000 homes and support thousands of jobs over the project’s long life.
Officials argue the build could advance commercialization of SMR technology and reinforce a domestic nuclear supply chain.
On the St. Lawrence, the Contrecoeur container terminal project near Montréal would expand the Port of Montréal’s capacity by about 60%, a move intended to ease congestion, support growing trade volumes, and strengthen Eastern Canada’s logistics network.
The government’s estimates point to sizable job creation and recurring economic benefits once the terminal is in service.
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In Saskatchewan, the McIlvenna Bay Foran copper mine, developed in collaboration with the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, is billed as a contributor to critical-minerals supply for clean energy and manufacturing.
In northwest B.C., a major expansion at the Red Chris mine would extend the asset’s life by more than a decade and lift Canada’s annual copper output, with the government highlighting planned emissions reductions when operations ramp up.
Ottawa also said the proposed Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor linked to the mine will be considered by the MPO, citing potential for Indigenous leadership, clean power transmission, and a large protected area.
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Together, the initial projects represent more than 60 billion Canadian dollars in prospective investment, the government said.
Many have already cleared significant regulatory milestones, so the MPO’s role now shifts to closing remaining permitting gaps, coordinating across jurisdictions, and assessing financing structures so proponents can move to final decisions.
Carney cast the announcement as an early proof point for a build-now agenda. “We will build big, build now, and build Canada strong,” he said in the release.
Dawn Farrell, the MPO’s chief executive, said the drive to reach “one project, one review, one decision” is meant to set Canada apart and attract capital.
The office was launched on August 29, following the Building Canada Act coming into force in June, and is backed by dedicated funding to support Indigenous participation in project consultations.
Beyond the first five, Ottawa flagged several earlier-stage concepts it wants the MPO to help shape.
Those include a critical-minerals push to accelerate final investment decisions within two years. An Atlantic wind initiative will tap tens of gigawatts of potential and connect renewable power across the region.
An Alberta-based carbon capture and pipeline system is aimed at lowering oil-sands emissions. An Arctic economic and security corridor will support northern development.
The expanded Port of Churchill trade route is another key element. Finally, a high-speed rail line between Toronto and Québec City could halve travel times if built on the government’s accelerated schedule.
The MPO is designed to provide a single federal interface and clear conditions, while working with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, and private financiers.
That approach reflects Ottawa’s effort to square speed with standards on environmental review and Indigenous rights, and to crowd in private capital for big-ticket energy, transport, and industrial projects.
If the timelines hold, proponents could face fewer unknowns in getting from proposal to construction.
