In late August, Prime Minister Carney launched the new Major Projects Office to fast-track nation-building projects. The Office will be located in Calgary, and the aim is to create a hub to advance national projects vital to Canada’s prosperity.
Today, the federal government announced the first set of projects that are being reviewed by this new office (you can read more here).
The announcement highlights a new single set of conditions to reduce approval timelines to a maximum of two years, along with a cross-country list of projects in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada. These include critical minerals and mining expansions, a wind project in Atlantic Canada, carbon capture through the Pathways Alliance, an Arctic economic and security corridor, and high-speed rail.
These projects represent more than $60 billion in investment, and promise to create thousands of new jobs.
“This is a defining moment for Canada,” says Dawn Farrell, CEO of the Major Projects Office. “To get to ‘one project, one review, one decision’ will set Canada apart globally and will attract enormous inflows of capital.”
Farrell was recently appointed as CEO, and she’s been tasked with identifying projects that are in the national interest and moving them forward with urgency.
Her appointment marks a significant moment: a female leader with deep experience in energy infrastructure now heads the office meant to streamline project approvals nationally.
She’s the chair of the board of directors of the Trans Mountain Corporation, and was previously the CEO of TransAlta, and a senior executive at B.C. Hydro. Her experience will be important at a time when expertise will be critical to moving projects forward. and Carney has called her “one of Canada’s most experienced executives.”
Among the first priorities identified is expansion of port infrastructure, underscoring the importance of trade gateways as part of the government’s nation-building agenda. The office will also look at railways, energy corridors, and critical mineral development.
This is a big milestone for engaged women who have been asking for collaborative leadership that advances infrastructure. Our research shows 85 per cent of engaged women across the country want a strong energy sector, including efficient infrastructure development. As the office begins its work, Canadians will be watching to see whether this new approach delivers the urgency and clarity that households and businesses have been waiting for.