Simplifying Canada’s process for all major projects

To get all major projects built faster, the Government of Canada is working to improve Canada’s project reviews and decision-making processes. The goal is to ensure efficiency while upholding Canada’s environmental standards and the Crown’s constitutional obligations to Indigenous Peoples.

Clear and efficient processes will give investors and project proponents the predictability, certainty and clarity they need to invest in and build major projects in Canada.

Early and meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples is key to implementing improvements to the regulatory system that respect Indigenous rights, advance Indigenous priorities, and promote partnership in decision making.

Why this work is needed now

The world is changing rapidly. In response, Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control. Canada is competing on the international stage to attract investments in large-scale projects, and needs to use all the tools at its disposal to get major projects built. These projects will help Canada become the strongest economy in the G7, responsibly unlock our resources, deepen our trade relationships with reliable partners, and create good Canadian jobs.

In the past, it has often taken more than five years for a project to receive the federal decisions necessary to begin construction. The result is significant risk for proponents that deters investment in Canada in a competitive international environment.

We are making changes to help Canadians build faster, invest more, and see the results of their efforts in record times while protecting the environment and respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Engagement on potential legislative initiatives

Working alongside provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners, and industry, the Government of Canada is looking to grow the economy while reinforcing strong environmental protections and upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Government of Canada is undertaking meaningful engagement on potential legislative and regulatory initiatives that would transform Canada’s regulatory processes. These changes would help support an effective, efficient and uniform regulatory system for major projects, and strengthen the efficiency of supply chains in Canada. 

Before this work moves forward, engagement with Indigenous Peoples, as well as engagement with interested stakeholders and Canadians, is being undertaken. Feedback from this engagement will be incorporated into the implementation of next steps.

Learn more about engagement for regulatory changes for major projects.

Learn more about engagement for strengthening the efficiency of supply chains in Canada.

Other government efforts towards regulatory change

These efforts build on progress already achieved by departments and agencies to improve the efficiency of federal reviews for major projects. This includes ongoing work with provinces to implement a “one project, one review” approach, the Government’s red tape review, and other actions to streamline and simplify requirements.