Supporting legislation

The Building Canada Act was introduced as part of Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act. It was introduced on June 6, 2025, and received Royal Assent on June 26.

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.

The Building Canada Act will enable the government to streamline federal approval processes to get major projects built faster. These projects – including ports, railways, energy corridors, critical mineral developments, and clean energy initiatives – will better connect our economy, diversify our industries, access new markets, and create high-paying careers, while protecting Canada’s rigorous environmental standards and upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Investors, provinces and territories, and the business community have been vocal that 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.

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.

Major Projects Office

The Major Projects Office’s mandate is to advance major projects in Canada and streamline federal regulatory project approval. The Office brings together people and processes to move major projects forward faster, responsibly, and sustainably, while respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and protecting the environment.

The Office’s flagship initiative is the advancement of nation-building projects through the Building Canada Act. The Office also supports the Government of Canada’s review of policies, regulations and legislation to make changes to achieve a two-year timeline for all federal decision-making for major projects and supporting the implementation of the concept of “one project, one review” through cooperation agreements with willing provinces.

Learn more about the Major Projects Office and the services they provided.

Indigenous participation

The Government of Canada is committed to upholding its duty to consult with Indigenous Peoples throughout the process. This commitment is guided by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the Principles Respecting the Government of Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples. The Building Canada Act commits that Indigenous Peoples whose section 35 rights may be adversely affected by the carrying out of the project are consulted throughout the process: before determining a project is in the national interest, before the issuance of the conditions document, and before any amendment to the conditions document.

This Act is in line with the Government of Canada’s commitment to the long-term wealth and prosperity of Indigenous Peoples. For this reason, the Government of Canada has doubled the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5 billion to $10 billion – enabling more Indigenous groups and organizations to become owners of major projects as we move forward with nation-building projects.

The Building Canada Act was designed to transform the Canadian economy and contribute to greater prosperity for Indigenous communities, through equity and resource management projects.

To ensure that these major projects are built in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, the federal government has:

• Stood up an Indigenous Advisory Council to help shape how the Major Projects Office works with Indigenous Peoples. This includes providing advice on advancing economic participation in major projects, and how best to integrate United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples principles throughout the process.
• Committed $40 million over two years to increase the capacity of Indigenous Peoples to engage on major projects early and consistently.
• Doubled the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5 billion to $10 billion. This program facilitates access to affordable capital to Indigenous groups, and covers all major projects across all sectors of the economy, apart from gaming.

The Government of Canada is committed to building lasting prosperity and creating new economic opportunities with Indigenous Peoples. We will work with Indigenous Peoples to ensure their rights are respected and their participation is valued. Our goal is to build big, build bold, and build now, and to create lasting economic strength for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, connecting more communities to build one, strong Canadian economy.

The new process

For projects designated as in the national interest under the Building Canada Act, a new streamlined process will be followed.

Taking action

Learn more about the approach we are taking to building one Canadian economy.