Carney lays out federal criteria for fast-tracking infrastructure projects

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Prime Minister Mark Carney released his government’s criteria for fast-tracking major infrastructure projects after a meeting with premiers on Monday, with a focus on proposals that could create a more independent economy and that have buy-in from Indigenous communities.

Mr. Carney’s government is promising two-year approvals for a range of projects that could include critical mineral corridors, ports, nuclear energy projects and pipelines. He has argued such projects are needed to boost Canada’s economy while also making it less reliant on the United States – a dominant theme of Mr. Carney’s election platform that was emphasized in last week’s Throne Speech.

President Donald Trump has been imposing tariffs on his country’s closest trading partners, fuelling economic uncertainty in Canada as businesses gear up for a slowdown.

The government has yet to detail how this expedited process would work or how Ottawa would balance speed with requirements to consult with Indigenous communities. Mr. Carney didn’t identify specific proposals that will be prioritized.

The Prime Minister had invited premiers to draw up lists of projects that would have “national significance” ahead of the gathering in Saskatoon, which was his first meeting with the provincial and territorial premiers since he won the election in late April.

Mr. Carney was already facing pressure from some premiers, notably Alberta’s Danielle Smith, to relax environmental laws brought in by his predecessor Justin Trudeau and put a priority on pipelines and energy projects.

While Monday’s meeting ended without a commitment for a new pipeline, Mr. Carney said “decarbonized Canadian oil and gas by pipelines” would be among the projects his government would consider, including potentially an oil pipeline to tidewater.

“The point is to build the certainty, the stability and the ambition that builders need to catalyze enormous investment, investment to make Canada into an energy superpower and to build the strongest economy in the G7,” Mr. Carney said.

The criteria he outlined for projects include strengthening the economy, offering economic benefits, having a high likelihood of successful execution, being a high priority for Indigenous leaders and potentially contributing to clean growth.

Coming out of the meeting, Ms. Smith said Mr. Carney’s comments about the energy sector are part of a “grand bargain” with Ottawa and said she was encouraged by the “change in tone” from the federal government in recent months regarding energy policy.

“When we hear the Prime Minister talking about being an energy superpower. We haven’t heard that kind of language for some time on both conventional and clean power,” she said.

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Ms. Smith has also urged Mr. Carney to repeal Bill C-69, the Impact Assessment Act, which critics have dubbed the “no more pipelines” law.

While the Prime Minister has not committed to doing that, Ms. Smith later told The Globe and Mail she expects the federal government’s project list will act as a “work around” of that law.

“It’s a recognition that the current regulatory process has failed,” she said.

Mr. Carney said that once a project is designated as being in the national interest, a new federal major project office will be responsible for providing a single set of conditions that have to be met for those projects to move forward.

The Prime Minister said after the federal government passes legislation to make fast-tracking projects possible, he expects to refine the list of projects proposed as private investors come forward with plans.

“Our first job is legislation, legislation to give ourselves the ability to make this a reality,” he said. “But we will very quickly move into the summer to refine that list from the list we have. I think, as more private proponents become aware of the opportunity here, we’re going to see more projects coming forward.”

He added that projects will be added to the list and others will fall away: “It’s a living list. But what is being clear is what is being put in place.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford praised the meeting and described the Prime Minister as “Santa Claus” doling out gifts for premiers.

“There was no expectations the Prime Minister was going to come out and say, ‘you get that project, you get that project,’” Mr. Ford said.

“I thought it was an incredible meeting, great communication, great collaboration, and we all walked out of that room united.”

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said the projects being discussed won’t just expand the Canadian economy, but that they are a “generational opportunity for some of the poorest communities in our country.”

The national push for fast-tracking infrastructure projects has been met with criticism from some Indigenous communities who say their constitutional right to consultation may be in jeopardy.

The National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, on Monday spoke at a rally at Queen’s Park protesting Ontario’s Bill 5, which would give the province sweeping powers to speed up mining projects.

Speaking to reporters, she also said she put a list of demands from First Nations to Mr. Carney over the weekend but had not heard back. She also warned of cross-country protests if governments continue to ignore First Nations.

She also said AFN national chiefs should not be left out of first ministers meetings.

“They always put us at the little kiddie table for an hour before. And I think that that’s so disrespectful,” Ms. Woodhouse Nepinak said.

With a report from Jeff Gray in Toronto