The Darlington New Nuclear Project site in Clarington is among the first projects to become part of the Major Projects Office’s mandate. (CNW Group/Ontario Power Generation Inc.)
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the first series of projects being referred to the new Major Projects Office (MPO) for accelerated development. The initial list includes the LNG Canada Phase 2 project in Kitimat, B.C., the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Bowmanville, Ont., the Contrecœur Terminal Container Project in Contrecœur, Que., the McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project in East-Central Saskatchewan, and expansion of the Red Chris Mine in Northwest British Columbia.
The MPO’s mandate is to identify and fast-track nation-building projects by streamlining regulatory assessment and approvals and helping to structure financing, in close partnership with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples and private investors. By creating a single set of conditions, the expectation is for selected projects to see reduced approval timelines, to a maximum of two years, as the office works with provinces and territories to achieve a “one project, one review” approach.
“At this moment of transformative change, Canada’s new government is focused on delivering major projects to connect our communities, empower Canadian workers, and build Canada’s strength,” stated Prime Minister Carney. “With the first in a series of new projects, we will build big, build now, and build Canada strong.”
The LNG Canada Phase 2 project will double LNG Canada’s production of liquefied natural gas, making it the second-largest facility of its kind in the world. It is expected to attract significant private-sector capital to Canada, contribute to GDP growth, and support jobs and economic growth in local communities. It will also support diversification of the country’s trading partners and meet increasing global demand for secure, low-carbon energy with Canadian LNG.
The nuclear project at Darlington will make Canada the first G7 country to have an operational small modular reactor (SMR), accelerating the commercialization of a key technology that could support Canadian and global clean energy needs while driving $500 million annually into Ontario’s nuclear supply chain.
Once complete, Darlington’s first of four planned SMR units will provide power to 300,000 homes, while sustaining 3,700 jobs annually, including 18,000 during construction, over the next 65 years.
The Contrecœur Terminal Container Project looks to expand the Port of Montreal’s capacity by about 60 per cent, which would expand trading infrastructure in Eastern Canada to keep goods moving, meet growing demand and diversify trade routes.
McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project, East-Central Saskatchewan: and
Working in close collaboration with the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, the McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine is situated in one of Canada’s richest mineral belts. The project will supply copper and zinc to strengthen Canada’s position as a global supplier of critical minerals for clean energy, advanced manufacturing and modern infrastructure.
The Red Chris Mine expansion aims to extend the lifespan of that mine by over a decade, increasing Canada’s annual copper production by over 15 per cent and employing about 800 workers during operations, with a peak of approximately 1,500 workers during construction. The mine is part of the proposed Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor.
Together, the projects represent investments of more than $60 billion in the Canadian economy and will create thousands of jobs.
For these first projects, the work of the MPO will be to close final regulatory and permitting gaps, co-ordinate with provinces and territories, and ensure financing plans can be achieved. The MPO will recommend to the federal government the best course to complete each project approval quickly so proponents can make smart investment decisions.
In addition to the first five projects, the federal government also identified industry sectors where additional projects could be identified for development through the MPO’s processes. These include the critical minerals sector, and Ontario’s Ring of Fire, as well as wind energy development in Atlantic Canada, Pathways Plus, an Alberta-based carbon capture, utilization and storage project and pipeline, an Arctic economic and security corridor, the Alto high-speed rail system, and upgrades to the Port of Churchill.
The announcement was welcomed by organizations like the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).
“We have been advocating for the reduction of red-tape and greater investment in national, shovel-worthy infrastructure projects for many years, including through our leadership of the Canadian Trade Infrastructure Plan,” said CCA president Rodrigue Gilbert. “Today’s announcement further cements the importance of our industry and the role we play in supporting and enhancing the everyday lives of millions of Canadians, enabling our national economy, and bolster our supply chains.”
