Federal government's nation-building projects list expected to draw from these five areas: source
Robichaud said that beyond the proposed offshore wind energy in Nova Scotia, new nuclear power from New Brunswick and hydro from Newfoundland and Labrador, the growth potential of onshore wind has already been identified in all four Atlantic provinces.
Article content
'All of the Atlantic provinces require additional generation and there is opportunity in exporting energy, whether it's through transmission lines or as hydrogen, ammonia or other clean fuels,' she said.
Article content
Eastern premiers are also hoping that Canada's renewed interest in strengthening ties with the European Union could facilitate the build-out of a hydrogen sector, leveraging the region's clean electricity to produce green hydrogen, which can then be converted into ammonia for long-distance shipping to markets such as Germany.
Article content
'It's been pretty obvious that the EU is a partner that we're looking to get closer to, so if there's a way that we can work on making sure that our Atlantic provinces are well-equipped to send resources to Europe, that's important,' the senior government source said.
Article content
Article content
Critical Minerals Pathways
Article content
The Carney government has said the world is bullish on Canada's potential to supply critical minerals, so projects that capitalize on this opportunity are likely to draw attention as part of the nation-building initiative.
Article content
The Ontario government's proposed multi-billion-dollar investment in the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region looms large on the list. Premier Doug Ford has put developing the vast region at the top of his priority list and is looking to speed assessments of some key components of the project under Bill C-5, including portions of a three-part road network proposed to provide access to the Ring of Fire.
Article content
But Ottawa will also be looking at other mines and projects currently in the regulatory pipeline, as well as investments along the entire value chain for critical minerals, including midstream processing, manufacturing and recycling.
Article content
Sector watchers warn that many early-stage mineral projects struggle economically because they must export their output for processing. In some cases, midstream processing or refining is essential for turning marginal or high-cost mining operations for minerals such as lithium and rare earths into economically viable projects.
Article content
Article content
As a result, governments may want to prioritize investment in infrastructure and mining projects close to where midstream capacity already exists, Killeen said, pointing to the concentration of smelters, refineries and mills in Sudbury, Ont., the country's only copper smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Que., and the massive zinc and lead smelting and refining complex in Trail, B.C.
Article content
Article content
'There hasn't been a new smelter developed in Canada in decades,' he said. 'There's only a few pins in the map in Canada where you take raw material out of a mine and turn it into some further developed, value-added product. If we can fill in that midstream processing gap, that's a big part of building up the strategy that we want.'
Article content
The final category could include two broad types of projects: energy and natural resource infrastructure, and transportation projects such as roads and railways, according to the source familiar with the government's thinking.
Article content
The hope is these projects will create jobs while helping Canada's exports reach different trading partners.
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
7 hours ago
- CTV News
Halifax residents react to council motion that could make Argyle Street pedestrian-only zone
Halifax council will vote on a report that will look at making Argyle Street pedestrian-only permanently. From April to November every year, a portion of Argyle Street in downtown Halifax is closed to vehicle traffic. From Blowers to Prince streets, it's pedestrian and bicycles only and has been for the last 10 years. A motion by Coun. Laura White could make the closure permanent. White's motion asks staff to consult with business owners to get their input about the idea of making Argyle Street a pedestrian zone year-round. 'I think it would be fantastic for the city,' says Jon Whitton, co-owner of Hospitality Group, who notes closing streets to vehicle traffic is common in Europe. 'Really nothing should change during the winter that we don't incorporate during the summer and let's be honest, we're busy here in the summer that we are in the winter so if we and delivery companies can make it work in the summer, we can absolutely make it work in the winter.' Andreas Foerster thinks the move would bring about a greater appreciation of the city for residents and tourists. 'I think that Halifax is a beautiful city and you want to emphasize the aesthetics that comes from being able to walk around,' Foerster says. Paul MacKinnon, CEO of the Downtown Halifax Business Commission, says there are a lot of things to consider. 'I think it's certainly something that we want to make a decision on,' MacKinnon says. 'There's access issues. You lose a couple of parking spots but not really very many. I think the big concern that people have is how does this impact things like commuting and traffic congestion.' Argyle Street is scheduled to reopen to vehicle traffic on Nov. 12. Council will vote on Laura White's motion on Tuesday. Argyle Street The pedestrian-only portion of Argyle Street in downtown Halifax is pictured. (Source: Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
7 hours ago
- CTV News
Some industrial activity could soon resume in N.B. woods if rain persists: DNR
A wildfire burns near Miramichi, N.B., in this Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Government of New Brunswick, Stephen MacGillivray (Mandatory credit) Some industries in New Brunswick might soon be able to resume work in the forests if the province continues to see steady rain. Natural Resources Minister John Herron made the remarks during a news conference about New Brunswick's wildfire situation Monday afternoon. The province has banned industrial and recreational activities in the woods due to the tinder-dry conditions and high wildfire risk. There is also a provincewide ban on burning. Herron noted New Brunswick saw some rain over the weekend and said it would likely need to see two to five more days of sustained rain to allow some commercial activity to resume. 'The rain that we did receive – and I want to be very, very cautious with my remarks here on what this means in our forest and what opportunities or new opportunities may exist – but because of that rain that we have received, there may be opportunities for us to be able to put people back to work, largely on an area-specific or regional basis,' he said. Herron said tree-planting operations and sawmills are two industries that could see some restrictions lifted. He noted time is running out for the province's tree-planting exercises, which he said are 'not that heavy from an industrial perspective.' He also said some mills in New Brunswick are running low on wood, so the province may allow some of those operations to resume in some areas, if conditions improve. 'Any process, industry that we begin to restart has to be done through a very balanced and considered process,' said Herron. 'I do not envision a provincewide lifting of recreational activities, commercial activities sort of all at once.' Herron said any industrial activity would be first be allowed at night, when the wildfire risk is lower. 'We will not put New Brunswick families and communities at risk,' he said. Economic losses While no structures have been lost due to the wildfires, Herron said there have been substantial economic losses. 'Those fires do represent a very significant amount of our inventory from a forest perspective that we are paying attention to,' he said. Herron said roughly 2,500 hectares of land have been lost, or are at risk, which translates to about $4 million in royalty revenue. He said timber would represent about $10.5 million in direct and indirect tax revenue to the government from the forest sector value chain. 'That timber would represent roughly $42.5 million in lumber revenue to sawmills and overall, from a GDP perspective, it would be about $77.5 million,' said Herron, noting those figures are on the higher end as they assume every hectare is comprised of merchantable wood. As of 3:15 p.m. Monday, there were 35 active wildfires in New Brunswick, including six considered out of control. The province's largest fire, the Oldfield Road fire in the Miramichi area, is now considered contained. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
12 hours ago
- CTV News
Dalhousie University faculty to be locked out Wednesday unless deal is made
Dalhousie University will lock out more than 1,000 faculty members Wednesday unless both parties agree to a new collective agreement. The Dalhousie Faculty Association – which represents full-time professors, librarians, counsellors and instructors – and the board of governors have been engaged in negotiations for a new deal since May. The previous three-year collective agreement expired at the end of June. Last week, Dalhousie president Kim Brooks issued the university's final offer to the union, proposing a wage increase of two per cent per year for three years. David Westwood, president of the Association, previously told CTV News Atlantic the union is looking for a seven per cent wage increase in the first year, followed by four per cent increases in the second and third years. The university, which reported a $20.6-million deficit in its 2025-2026 operating budget, previously said it had 'significant financial challenges' in meeting the Association's wage increase request. In a statement on Monday, the university put out its intention to lock out members of the union at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday unless a deal is reached. 'An August lockout would disrupt a lot of teaching,' Westwood previously said. 'It's also a top month when graduate students are defending their theses. All those defences would be terminated if there's a lockout. Our members would be unable to do the preparations to get ready for September.' The Dalhousie website says the campus would remain open during a lockout, but all classes taught by Association members would be suspended. If the lockout extends into the fall term, students will receive further instruction about possible course suspensions. All other employees outside the Association will report to work as usual. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
