Carney Unveils First Fast-Tracked Infrastructure Projects

An expansion of the Port of Montreal and a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) development in British Columbia are among the first five projects selected for fast-track approval under Canada’s new major projects legislation.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to officially unveil the list during a Thursday announcement in Edmonton.

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According to a draft news release obtained by The Canadian Press, the federal government’s Major Projects Office will prioritize five key infrastructure projects for accelerated review and approval, with five additional projects identified for further development.

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The initial five projects include:

• LNG Canada Phase 2 in Kitimat, B.C., which aims to double the country’s LNG production and could pave the way for future LNG developments.
• Expansion of the Port of Montreal, enhancing one of Canada’s busiest transportation hubs.
• A first-of-its-kind small modular nuclear reactor in Clarington, Ontario.
• A new copper and zinc mine in Saskatchewan.
• An expansion of the Red Chris copper mine in northwestern British Columbia.

In addition to these, the release outlines five more projects that are in earlier stages of planning but are considered promising. These include:

• Upgrades to the Port of Churchill in Manitoba.
• A proposed high-speed rail line connecting Toronto and Québec City.
• A 50-gigawatt wind energy project in Nova Scotia.
• An Alberta-based carbon capture and storage project.
• All-weather road infrastructure in Northern Canada to support potential critical mineral development.

These future projects span all major regions of the country and align with Canada’s economic and energy transition priorities.

The announcement comes as part of the federal government’s efforts to accelerate infrastructure development through Bill C-5, legislation that was passed quickly earlier this year. The bill aims to streamline regulatory processes for large-scale projects, particularly as Canada looks to strengthen its economy in response to trade pressures from the United States.