Building Canada Act and the Major Projects Office
The Building Canada Act is a new federal law (enacted June 2025) that allows certain major infrastructure projects to be designated as being in the “national interest” and fast-tracked through approvals. Instead of navigating multiple permits and reviews sequentially, a designated project gets a single, consolidated authorization with conditions - effectively a one-stop federal approval process. This streamlining is meant to cut red tape and build nation‑building projects “at speeds not seen in generations,” from ports and railways to pipelines, mines, and clean energy facilities.
Going forward, Canadians will be watching how the first projects chosen under this Act unfold. In late 2025, the government began referring initial projects (from critical mineral mines to port expansions) to the Major Projects Office for consideration. Will this new fast-track system deliver infrastructure “faster, responsibly, and sustainably” as promised? Or will it face push back and unintended consequences?
West Coast Env. Law – https://www.wcel.org/sites/default/files/publications/2025-10-14%20WCEL%20Bill%20C-5%20Legal%20Brief%20-%20Final.pdf#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20the%20exemption,In
Reuters – https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/nine-canadian-first-nations-launch-constitutional-challenge-major-projects-2025-07-15/#:~:text=Environmentalists%20oppose%20both%20laws%2C%20saying,the%20government%27s%20duty%20to%20consult
Stewart McKelvey – https://stewartmckelvey.com/uncategorized/building-canada-act-an-act-respecting-national-interest-projects/#:~:text=,growth%20and%20Canada%E2%80%99s%20climate%20objectives
Osler Legal Outlook 2025 – https://www.osler.com/en/insights/reports/2025-legal-outlook/building-canada-advancing-national-priorities-and-projects/#:~:text=Such%20authorizations%20can%20include%20decisions,at%20Risk%20Act%2C%20among%20others
Library of Parliament – Legislative Summary of Bill C-5 – https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/LegislativeSummaries/451C5E#:~:text=The%20Building%C2%A0Canada%C2%A0Act%20,11
Justice Laws Website – Building Canada Act (Statutes of Canada 2025, c.2) – https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/b-9.89/FullText.html#:~:text=,is%20to%20be%20carried%20out
Privy Council Office – Major Projects Office (Canada.ca) – https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/major-projects-office.html
Prime Minister of Canada – News Release (Sept 11, 2025) – https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/09/11/prime-minister-carney-announces-first-projects-be-reviewed-new#:~:text=,lower%20than%20the%20world%E2%80%99s
Prime Minister of Canada – News Release (Nov 13, 2025) – https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/11/13/prime-minister-carney-announces-second-tranche-nation-building-projects#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20Prime%20Minister%20referred,area%20the%20size%20of%20Greece
Debates (Hansard) – https://www.ourcommons.ca/documentviewer/en/45-1/house/sitting-16/hansard#:~:text=need%20to%20consult%20with%20affected,apply%20to%20such%20a%20project
Norton Rose Fulbright – https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en/knowledge/publications/23c3f5fd/loi-visant-a-batir-le-canada-lobligation-de-consulter-et-la-reconciliation-economique#:~:text=In%20an%20attempt%20to%20address,the%20coming%20year%20to%20strengthen
Business Council of Alberta – https://businesscouncilab.com/advocacy-category/bill-c-5-is-a-good-start-but-not-a-complete-strategy/#:~:text=last%20decade%2C%20we%20ranked%C2%A037%20out,pulling%20farther%20and%20farther%20ahead
Business Council of Canada – https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/LegislativeSummaries/451C5E#:~:text=barriers%20could%20add%20approximately%200,40
Budget 2025 – https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/11/13/prime-minister-carney-announces-second-tranche-nation-building-projects#:~:text=The%20world%20is%20changing%20rapidly,securing%20sovereign%20domestic%20supply%20chains