Ontario Construction News staff writer
Prime Minister Mark Carney has released the federal government’s first slate of “nation-building” projects, vowing to speed approvals and cut red tape for major developments across Canada.
The list, unveiled Thursday, includes an expansion of liquefied natural gas production in Kitimat, B.C., upgrades to Montreal’s port, Ontario’s Darlington New Nuclear Project, and mining projects in Saskatchewan and northwestern B.C.
“We used to build big things in this country, and we used to build them quickly. It’s time to get back at it,” Carney said. “That starts with getting out of the way.”
The five projects would create thousands of construction jobs over several years, he said.
The projects are:
- Darlington New Nuclear Project in Clarington
- Phase two of LNG Canada in Kitimat, B.C.
- Contrecœur Terminal expansion at the Port of Montreal.
- McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine in Saskatchewan.
- Expansion of the Red Chris Mine in northwestern B.C.
Atlantic wind power, Northern roads and an eventual Toronto–Quebec City high-speed rail line could be added to the list once early planning work is complete.
The prime minister also outlined a critical minerals strategy aimed at fast-tracking resource development in Ontario’s Ring of Fire, the Slave Geological Area in the Northwest Territories, and the Labrador Trough. He said projects should be able to reach final investment decisions within two years.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called the plan “pathetic,” saying what the projects need is the repeal of Liberal laws he argues block development.
“What he’s done today is announce that he’s going to send an email to an office that isn’t even fully staffed up yet,” Poilievre said. “We don’t need a new bureaucracy in Ottawa or a new dream list — we need the federal government to get out of the way.”
The MPO will consult with 11 Indigenous leaders to ensure “meaningful participation and equity ownership opportunities.”