In response to the federal government’s latest list of projects referred to the Major Projects Office (MPO), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive officer issued a statement cautioning against turning this process “into a lottery.”
According to Candace Laing, the Chamber’s CEO and president, “every project, large or small, needs a consistent and dependable system and then a resilient business environment in which to operate. That’s the only way we’ll reliably attract private capital and investment and get projects built in Canada today and tomorrow.”
The MPO is supposed to hasten nation-building projects. Mark Carney, Canada’s prime minister, recently announced the second tranche of projects referred to the MPO, representing over $56 billion in new investments and seeking to support 68,000 careers.
According to Carney, both tranches referred to the MPO amounted to over $116 billion in investments. In September, the new federal government announced the first tranche, representing $60 billion in investments in nuclear power, liquefied natural gas (LNG), critical minerals, and trade corridors.
“The Major Projects Office list has, for better or worse, become a barometer for success in our ability to build big projects and get Canada’s economy going,” Laing said in the statement. “The true barometer will be when we no longer need a Major Projects Office to shepherd nation-building projects through the maze of government regulations and red tape.”
Carney said the strategy in budget 2025 to build Canada’s economy focuses on ports, mines, trade corridors, and other infrastructure projects striving to unlock natural resources, enable sales to new domestic and international markets, and secure sovereign domestic supply chains.
Carney added that the projects recently referred to the MPO are part of the following national strategies to boost Canada’s competitiveness:
- Realize Canada’s full potential as an energy superpower
- Create trade and economic corridors to diversify the economy
- Build leadership in critical minerals to increase independence
- Establish the country’s data sovereignty at a scale to serve Canadians safely and securely
“Faced with uncertainty, Canada’s new government is making bold choices to grow our economy stronger than ever before – with major investments, faster approvals, and a clear signal to workers and industry: it’s time to build,” Carney said in the news release.
Laing acknowledged that Canada’s expressed objective is to build big and build now.
“While the government designating projects gives the impression of focus and progress, it instead reinforces a two-track system,” Laing said in the statement. “Case-by-case exemptions leave investors and proponents wondering if they have what it takes to get the government’s attention.”
Latest list
According to the prime minister’s news release, the second tranche referred to the MPO included:
- the Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor in Northwest British Columbia and the Yukon, which encompasses vast critical mineral deposits and engages infrastructure investments that link clean electricity to Canada’s ability to export LNG
- the North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL) in Northwest BC, which will tie the Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor together, supported by the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s $139.5 million loan to BC Hydro
- Ksi Lisims LNG on Pearse Island, BC, which will become Canada’s second-largest LNG facility and a lowest-emission LNG operation, potentially attracting almost $30 billion in investment
- Canada Nickel’s Crawford Project in Timmins, Ontario, which will produce low-carbon nickel for batteries and green steels, drawing in $5 billion in investment
- Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Matawinie Mine in Saint‑Michel‑des‑Saints, Quebec, which will provide inputs for defence applications and battery supply chains, attracting $1.8 billion in investment
- Northcliff Resources’ Sisson Mine in Sisson Brook, New Brunswick, which will produce tungsten for steel production, defence, and industrial applications
- the Iqaluit Nukkiksautiit Hydro Project, which will become Nunavut’s first 100 percent Inuit-owned hydro energy project
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“By developing our critical mineral deposits, our clean electricity production, and our LNG export capacity, we are unleashing Canada’s economic potential and securing long-term prosperity for all Canadians,” said Dominic LeBlanc – president of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and minister responsible for Canada-US trade, intergovernmental affairs, internal trade, and one Canadian economy – in the news release.
“The announcement represents a significant push by the Canadian government to position the country as a leader in critical minerals and renewable energy production,” the Canadian Mining Journal staff said. “It aims to create long-term economic prosperity across the nation by leveraging Canada's natural resources and investing in key infrastructure projects.”