Major Projects Office of Canada: Initial Projects under Consideration

A list of initial projects under consideration by the Major Projects Office

A defining moment for Canada

Canada stands at a pivotal juncture as the global economy undergoes profound transformation. Decisive action is required to secure Canada’s long-term prosperity; this is a moment to act with ambition, confidence, and purpose.

This is Canada’s opportunity to think big and deliver on projects that will define the next century. We must build critical nation-building projects at speeds not seen in generations. These projects will create the infrastructure to diversify our trading relationships, unlock new markets, and position Canada as both a clean-energy and conventional-energy superpower.

Canada must provide clear and predictable regulatory pathways to attract global capital, accelerate innovation, and encourage domestic investment. By doing so, we will not only grow our economy but also protect Canadian industries from over-reliance on any single export market, strengthening our sovereignty and resilience.

We can transform our natural wealth, our world-class workforce, and our entrepreneurial spirit into engines of prosperity. With the right choices, Canada can lead in the energy transition, shape the future of critical mineral supply chains, and become a global hub for technology and advanced manufacturing.

Projects of national significance for further consideration

Projects deemed to be of national importance and significance are being referred to the Major Projects Office who will continue to work with proponents, provinces, territories and Indigenous Peoples to find the right way forward for these projects. The initial projects under consideration are:

LNG Canada Phase 2 – Kitimat, BC

 

Proponent: LNG Canada

This project would 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 $33B in private-sector capital to Canada, contribute to our GDP growth, and support jobs and economic growth in local communities. It will deliver low-carbon intensity Canadian energy to global markets and help diversify Canada’s trading partners – including those with increasing energy demands in Asia and Europe. The Major Projects Office will ensure that the final work on LNG Canada will create the pathway for other proponents of LNG projects that are strategic to the nation.

Darlington New Nuclear Project – Bowmanville, ON

 

Proponent: Ontario Power Generation

This project will make Canada the first G7 country to have an operational small modular reactor (SMR). Once complete, Darlington’s first of four planned SMR units would provide reliable, affordable, clean power to 300,000 homes, while supporting 200 high-paying jobs – in addition to 1,600 jobs during construction. The project has the potential to position Canada as a global leader in SMR technology for use across the country and for export as early as 2030.

Contrecoeur Terminal Container Project – Contrecoeur, QC

 

Proponent: Montreal Port Authority

This project will expand the Port of Montreal’s container capacity by approximately 60%, to give Canada the trading infrastructure it needs to keep goods moving, meet growing demand, and diversify trade routes. It will deploy AI capabilities to strengthen supply chains, create thousands of jobs, and generate lasting economic benefits across Québec and Canada.

McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project – East-Central, SK

 

Proponent: Foran Mining

This project in one of Canada’s richest mineral belts 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. It will create hundreds of jobs, boost local economies, and will be one of the lowest-emission operations of its kind.

Red Chris Mine expansion – Northwest, BC

 

Proponent: Newmont Mining & Imperial Metals

This major expansion project will extend the lifespan of the mine by over a decade, increase Canada’s annual copper production by over 15%, employ about 1,500 workers during operations, with a peak of approximately 1,800 workers during construction, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 70% when operational. Working in close collaboration with the Tahltan Nation, it is an important step in reconciliation and further developing the potential of Northern British Columbia and will strengthen Canada’s role as a reliable supplier of copper and other resources essential for global manufacturing and clean energy technologies. This mine is part of the proposed Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor. This corridor is being moved to the MPO for consideration, as it presents opportunities for critical minerals development, clean power transmission, Indigenous project leadership, and a potential new conservation area the size of Greece.

These projects are examples of the kinds of major infrastructure Canada needs to connect our economy, diversify our industries, and create thousands of high-paying careers while protecting the environment and upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Major Projects Office will continue the work to find the right way forward for each project.

The Major Projects Office will continue to review major projects and will announce more nation-building projects over the coming months.

Transformative Strategies

In addition to the five projects being announced today for referral to the Major Projects Office, the Government has identified strategic areas of focus and activity that will be transformative for Canada and Canadians. Moving forward with the speed and urgency of building Canada for the future.

First, the Government wants to make sure that projects in the national interest advance quickly. Building on this goal, the Prime Minister directed the Major Projects Office to transform regulatory processes to provide the certainty that all major projects are reviewed within two years, from start to finish.

Additionally, there are transformative projects for Canada, these cover critical mineral development, wind energy, critical infrastructure in the North, ports, and transportation infrastructure connecting Canadians and our goods with the world, as well as innovative carbon capture and storage and carbon management technologies. All meet the criteria of growth, security, diversification of markets and reconciliation.

The concepts and projects that fit within these nation-building strategies have boundless potential but are at an early stage and require further development. The Prime Minister also directed the Major Projects Office to create business development teams to work with provinces, territories, proponents, and Indigenous Peoples to further develop and make these nation-building projects a reality.

• Critical Minerals​ Strategy: Canada can be a powerhouse in the extraction and upgrading of critical minerals for industries that can emerge in Canada and to diversify and serve export markets. A priority for the Major Projects Office will be to get more critical minerals projects get to final investment decisions, with a focus on sustainability and regulatory certainty. This will enable critical mineral proponents working with Indigenous and local communities, investors, and provinces and territories to develop projects in regions like the Fosse du Labrador in QC and NL, the Northwest Critical Mineral and Conservation Corridor in BC, and the Ring of Fire in Ontario. The strategy will lead to the construction of ports and roads and focus on the first and last mile. Canada through its leadership at the G7 is also connecting with global partners to develop a Critical Mineral Alliance to match secure supply from projects with global partners who have industry demand. This work seizes opportunities to build new critical mineral value chains for clean technologies and defence applications for example: developing “mines to magnets” using our rare earth resources and building processing and manufacturing abilities; and refining and processing minerals needed for clean energy and electricity battery storage, as well as electric vehicles.
• Wind West Atlantic Energy: A project that would leverage over 60 GWs of wind power potential in Nova Scotia, and more across Atlantic Canada, connecting that renewable, emissions-free energy to Eastern and Atlantic Canada to meet rapidly growing demand. The Major Projects Office will advance Wind West Atlantic Energy with proponents to develop the projects and provide the regulatory certainty that attracts private investment and sets a course for long term wind resources development in the Maritime provinces. Wind West could be Canada’s first offshore wind development and will set the scale, direction and trajectory for future growth. Unlocking 5,000 MW in the first phase could produce 24 TWh of clean energy every year and drive billions in new investment and economic activity across Canada, led by the private sector. This Eastern Energy Partnership could include important projects like interties between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, transmission cables between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick as well as Quebec’s and Newfoundland and Labrador’s further development of Churchill Falls and Gull Island.
• Pathways Plus: An Alberta-based carbon capture, utilization, and storage project with additional energy infrastructure that would support a strong conventional energy sector while driving down emissions and emissions intensity from the oil sands. Pathways creates the prospect of facilitating low-carbon oil exports from the Alberta oil sands to a variety of potential markets. The Major Projects Office will develop a strategy to build the Pathways project which would reduce upstream emissions from the conventional energy sector, while catalyzing private investment in additional energy infrastructure that would support a strong conventional energy sector while driving down emissions and emissions intensity from the oil sands. The Pathways project represents $16.5B in GDP, $12.2B in labour income, and between 18,500 and 43,000 jobs annually.
• Arctic Economic and Security Corridor: The Arctic and Security Corridor is a strategic lifeline. Designed as dual-use infrastructure, it supports both Canada’s defence and economic goals. From fortified ports and all-season roads to runways and communications systems, it is built to serve military operations and commercial development alike. This corridor strengthens Canada’s Arctic sovereignty and opens new opportunities for northern communities and Canadian industry. It is where deterrence meets development — a backbone for both security and prosperity.
• Port of Churchill Plus: Building upon the leadership of the Arctic Gateway Group, this project will upgrade the Port of Churchill and expand trade corridors with an all-weather road, an upgraded rail line, a new energy corridor, and marine ice-breaking capacity. The transformative strategy would prioritize Indigenous equity ownership, through a new Manitoba Crown Indigenous Corporation, and develop the projects needed to turn the Port of Churchill in major four season and dual-use gateway to the region. Expanded export capacity in the North through Hudson Bay would contribute to increased and diversified trade with Europe and other partners. The Major Projects Office will work with prospective proponents to bring certainty to the regulatory processes that will attract private and public sources of capital investment and more strongly link Churchill to the rest of Canada.
• Alto High-Speed Rail: Canada’s first high-speed railway, spanning approximately 1,000 km from Toronto to Québec City and reaching speeds of up to 300 km/hour to cut travel times in half and connect close to half of Canada's population. Joining major centres through Canada’s most densely populated areas, this initiative will yield benefits for key government priorities, including:
  • Housing: contributing to the housing supply along the route, with a target of 63,000 units.
  • Environment: providing a sustainable means of travel, with a target of 25 million tonnes of CO2 emissions savings.
  • Job creation: delivering well-paying jobs with a target of 51,000 new jobs over 10 years.

Visit the Major Projects Office website to view these projects on an interactive map.

The Major Projects Office

The Government of Canada established the Major Projects Office to get nation-building projects built. Our country’s future competitiveness will depend on our ability to position Canada to build bigger and faster, attract investment, diversify trade, and bolster economic resilience.  

The Major Projects Office is a catalyst for the private sector participation and investment Canada needs to build big and build fast. It is a single-window for proponents, Indigenous communities, and governments to help identify and fast-track nation-building projects that will grow Canada’s economy.

It offers proponents of selected projects:

• Coordination with funding partners to organize and structure financing.
• Coordinated support for their projects across all relevant federal departments and agencies.
• Guidance on assessments and regulatory requirements, and clear pathways towards federal decisions.
• Guidance on establishing partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and engaging meaningfully with Indigenous rights-holders throughout the life of a project.
• Strategic support to identify solutions to barriers for project development.
• Project monitoring and oversight.

One Canadian Economy

Investors, provinces and territories, and the business community have expressed it is too difficult and takes too long to build economically feasible projects in Canada. Provinces and territories and many Indigenous Peoples want to see critical infrastructure projects advance in support of their interests and priorities.

Canada needs to use all the tools at its disposal to get major projects built; projects that will help Canada become the strongest economy in the G7, deepen our trade relationships with reliable partners, and create good Canadian jobs.

Through the Building Canada Act, the government will expedite projects deemed in the national interest, by streamlining federal review and approval processes to increase regulatory certainty, helping attract capital, strengthening our industries, and moving towards greater sovereignty and resilience while respecting Indigenous rights and protecting the environment.

These projects will enhance Canada’s prosperity, national security, economic security, national defence and national autonomy through the increased production of energy and goods, and the improved movement of goods, services and workers throughout Canada. They will strengthen access to Canadian resources, goods and services for a diverse group of reliable trade partners.

This is an important step towards improving Canadian productivity, growth, and economic competitiveness as we work to build one Canadian economy instead of 13. The One Canadian Economy legislation provides a framework to remove federal internal trade barriers and to advance major projects of national interest, so Canada can be stronger at home and abroad.