OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney says the federal government will unveil its next round of “nation-building” projects later this week, as Ottawa looks to accelerate economic growth and rebuild investor confidence amid escalating trade tensions with the United States.
Carney told reporters Monday in Fredericton that the new list will be announced Thursday in Prince Rupert, B.C., a port city that has become a focal point in Canada’s energy debate. The region is home to the recently approved Ksi Lisims liquefied natural gas project, but it is also where Alberta Premier Danielle Smith hopes to route a new million-barrel-a-day bitumen pipeline — a proposal opposed by the B.C. government and several coastal First Nations.
The upcoming announcement will mark the second batch of projects referred to Ottawa’s new Major Projects Office for expedited review. The first five were unveiled in September and included an LNG expansion in British Columbia, a small modular nuclear reactor in Ontario, copper mines in Saskatchewan and B.C., and a Montreal port expansion.
Carney said the selection process is ongoing and described the list as “a living one” that will be updated as new projects reach the development stage. The Major Projects Office, headquartered in Calgary, is designed to streamline approvals and remove regulatory duplication for projects deemed in the national interest. The office is being funded with $214 million over five years, plus additional resources for Indigenous consultation.
While Ottawa has not confirmed what will be on Thursday’s list, signals from senior ministers suggest energy infrastructure could feature prominently. In Calgary on Monday, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne told the Chamber of Commerce that the government aims to “crowd in investment” and provide the stability Canada’s oil and gas sector needs to expand markets. He said the new office will evaluate all proposals under upcoming funding rounds — including potential pipeline projects — to determine which advance Canada’s goals of clean growth and energy security.
Business leaders welcomed Champagne’s comments as a shift toward faster approvals and greater policy clarity. Chamber president Deborah Yedlin said the industry wants to see projects like the Pathways Alliance carbon capture network, and potentially new pipelines, among the next wave of federal approvals.
Carney’s upcoming announcement follows months of provincial lobbying to have local projects added to the national list. Alberta has been one of the most vocal, pushing for its proposed bitumen pipeline and arguing that repealing certain environmental laws would help clear the way.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson has said all submissions will be reviewed using the same criteria, including advancing Indigenous partnerships and contributing to clean economic growth.
Carney has repeatedly said the federal plan aims to balance economic expansion with climate commitments, describing the Major Projects Office as a way to “get Canada building again” without abandoning environmental standards.
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