Latest news with #BillC-5
Canada Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Canada Standard
Liberals Table Bill to Speed Up Approvals for Major 'National Interest' Projects
Prime Minister Mark Carney's government introduced legislation Friday that would grant it new powers to quickly push forward major projects the federal cabinet deems to be in the national interest. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc tabled a bill in the House of Commons that would give Ottawa the authority to draw up a list of large projects it wants to prioritize and to expedite their federal approval, The Canadian Press reports. Carney said it has become too hard to build new projects in Canada and vowed that this legislation will change that. "We're in an economic crisis," Carney told a news conference on Parliament Hill on Friday. "We're still facing intensifying, unjustified tariffs from our largest trading partner and the best way to respond to that is to respond at home, build strength at home." Bill C-5, the "free trade and labour mobility in Canada act and the building Canada act," is twinned legislation meant to break down internal trade barriers and cut red tape for major projects. The bill was a marquee election promise by Carney, who campaigned on a pledge to make the country an "energy superpower" and build up a more resilient economy in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's global trade war. The prime minister said he will do everything possible to get the legislation passed this summer and did not rule out having Parliament sit longer. The House is only scheduled to sit for another two weeks and the Liberals are governing with a precarious minority, forcing them to seek the support of MPs from other parties to advance their agenda. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre described the new bill as a small step in the right direction. He also said it amounts to an admission by the Liberals that their laws have inhibited building and urged the government to take much bolder action. "We do not need baby steps. We need breakthroughs," he said. Poilievre said he wants the government to repeal the oil tanker ban on B.C.'s northern coast, terminate the oil and gas sector's emissions cap and scrap the Impact Assessment Act that sets out a process for environmental reviews. He said he will consult with his caucus about how to approach the bill in Parliament but added that Conservatives would "vote in favour of accelerating even one project." Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers CEO Lisa Baiton said she is "encouraged by the federal government's flexibility and efforts to work with the provinces to accelerate the approval process for major projects." But environmental groups warned the new process could upend efforts to fight climate change. Jessica Clogg, executive director of West Coast Environmental Law, said that past experience shows "rushed approvals without assessment of risks are a recipe for conflict, legal challenges and future environmental disasters." Keith Stewart of Greenpeace Canada said the government should not fast track new fossil-fuel projects, as Carney has suggested. "To even consider designating oil and gas expansion projects as in the national interest is a slap in the face to not just the next generation, but every Canadian struggling right now to deal with climate change-fueled wildfires," he said. The legislation would create a new federal office to take the lead on streamlining approvals for major projects and task the intergovernmental affairs minister with overseeing the final permitting decision. The government said the goal of the bill is to send a clear signal to businesses and quickly build up investor confidence. Carney said the current approval process forces projects to undergo multiple reviews and assessments one after another, rather than at the same time. "That process is arduous," he said. "It takes too long and it's holding our country back." "For too long, when federal agencies examined a project, their immediate question has been, 'Why?' With this new bill, we will ask ourselves, 'How?'" The bill sets out five criteria to evaluate whether a project is in the national interest. They include the project's likelihood of success, whether it would strengthen the country's resiliency and advance the interests of Indigenous peoples, and whether it would contribute to economic growth in an environmentally responsible way. The new federal review office will work toward a goal of approving projects within two years. That's a political promise rather than a hard-and-fast rule; the legislation does not mention timelines. While the bill would give the government broad power to skirt environmental laws to push projects forward, one expert said it remains to be seen how Ottawa will use it. "This is the kind of consolidation that you sometimes see in times of national emergency. We see it in wartime, we saw it in COVID to some extent. That consolidation can let you move more quickly, which can be a good thing, but it can also be a risky thing," said Stewart Elgie, the Jarislowsky chair in clean economy at the University of Ottawa. He warned that trying to "shortcut environmental interests" does not help expedite projects. "The Harper government never got a major pipeline built, and it's because they gave short shrift to environment and Indigenous concerns. It ended up with blockades and litigation that ultimately slowed down the projects," Elgie said. Carney said the legislation requires meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples consistent with the Constitution and the Crown's duty to consult. The federal review office will also include an Indigenous Advisory Council with First Nation, Inuit and Metis representation. The legislation comes with a sunset clause that forces a review of the law after five years. Carney met with the premiers earlier in the week in Saskatoon, where they privately discussed various projects the premiers want to see quickly launched - including pipelines, trade corridors and mining projects. The new legislation does not touch on any provincial approvals that might be needed to allow a project to go ahead. - With files from Sarah Ritchie and Nick Murray This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025. Source: The Energy Mix
Economic Times
a day ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Canada tables 'One Canadian Economy' Bill to boost domestic trade and infrastructure
Prime Minister Mark Carney's government introduced Bill C-5, the "One Canadian Economy" bill, aiming to dismantle interprovincial trade barriers and expedite infrastructure project approvals. This initiative seeks to unify Canada's internal market, addressing trade tensions with the U.S. The bill targets federal obstacles to trade and labor mobility, potentially boosting the Canadian economy by $200 billion annually. Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has introduced Bill C-5 to dismantle interprovincial trade barriers, expedite major infrastructure projects and to boost domestic trade. It will unify Canada's internal market amid rising trade tensions with the US. (Image Credit: AP) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Accelerating Nation-Building Projects Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Responding to US Trade Pressures Legislative Outlook Prime Minister Mark Carney 's government has introduced Bill C-5 , the "One Canadian Economy" bill, to dismantle interprovincial trade barriers and expedite the approval of major infrastructure projects. This legislative move seeks to unify Canada 's fragmented internal market and strengthen its economy amid escalating trade tensions with the United was tabled after a first ministers' meeting in Saskatoon, during which Prime Minister Mark Carney , premiers, and territorial leaders discussed expediting major projects and interprovincial trade. The proposed legislation targets the elimination of federal obstacles to interprovincial trade and labor said that these internal barriers cost the Canadian economy approximately $200 billion annually. By aligning federal regulations with those of the provinces and territories, the bill will create a cohesive national market for the free movement of goods, services, and labor across Canada.'With the 'One Canadian Economy' bill, we are aligning federal rules and regulations with those from the provinces and territories, helping to create one market, not 13,' Carney said on Friday, June Canadian Chamber of Commerce supported the initiative, noting that while it may not entirely counteract the effects of a trade war with the US, it represents a significant step toward internal economic Holmes, the Chamber's chief of public policy, stated that eliminating exceptions to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement is a logical progression toward true free trade within addition to addressing trade barriers, the bill proposes a streamlined process for approving major infrastructure projects deemed of national interest. The government plans to establish a federal office dedicated to expediting project approvals, potentially reducing timelines from up to a decade to just two projects would include those in the energy, mining, and transportation sectors, provided they offer significant economic and environmental benefits, such as carbon emission reductions and support for Indigenous provincial governments' autonomy, Carney has assured that no projects will proceed without their some provinces, including Alberta and British Columbia, have expressed differing views on specific introduction of the "One Canadian Economy" bill comes in the wake of increased US tariffs on Canadian exports. Carney has labeled these tariffs as "unlawful" and emphasized the need for Canada to bolster its domestic approach includes engaging with the oil industry to balance environmental goals with economic have centered around supporting new pipelines and carbon capture initiatives, aiming to position Canada as an energy leader while reducing reliance on U.S. government wants to pass the "One Canadian Economy" bill before Parliament's summer recess, though the timeline remains tight. As a minority government, the Liberals will need to garner support from opposition parties to ensure the bill's outcome will significantly influence Canada's economic strategy and its ability to navigate current and future trade legislative effort represents a bold move toward unifying Canada's internal market and enhancing its economic sovereignty. If successful, it could pave the way for increased domestic trade, improved infrastructure, and a more resilient national economy.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Canada tables 'One Canadian Economy' Bill to boost domestic trade and infrastructure
Prime Minister Mark Carney 's government has introduced Bill C-5 , the "One Canadian Economy" bill, to dismantle interprovincial trade barriers and expedite the approval of major infrastructure projects. This legislative move seeks to unify Canada 's fragmented internal market and strengthen its economy amid escalating trade tensions with the United States. It was tabled after a first ministers' meeting in Saskatoon, during which Prime Minister Mark Carney, premiers, and territorial leaders discussed expediting major projects and interprovincial trade. The proposed legislation targets the elimination of federal obstacles to interprovincial trade and labor mobility. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Linda Kozlowski, 67, Shows Off Her Perfect Figure In A New Photo Today's NYC Undo Also Read: Canada Citizenship Bill addresses 'Lost Canadians' and First Generation Limit'; check features and eligibility Carney said that these internal barriers cost the Canadian economy approximately $200 billion annually. By aligning federal regulations with those of the provinces and territories, the bill will create a cohesive national market for the free movement of goods, services, and labor across Canada. Live Events 'With the 'One Canadian Economy' bill, we are aligning federal rules and regulations with those from the provinces and territories, helping to create one market, not 13,' Carney said on Friday, June 6. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce supported the initiative, noting that while it may not entirely counteract the effects of a trade war with the US, it represents a significant step toward internal economic integration. Matthew Holmes, the Chamber's chief of public policy, stated that eliminating exceptions to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement is a logical progression toward true free trade within Canada. Accelerating Nation-Building Projects In addition to addressing trade barriers, the bill proposes a streamlined process for approving major infrastructure projects deemed of national interest. The government plans to establish a federal office dedicated to expediting project approvals, potentially reducing timelines from up to a decade to just two years. Eligible projects would include those in the energy, mining, and transportation sectors, provided they offer significant economic and environmental benefits, such as carbon emission reductions and support for Indigenous communities. Respecting provincial governments' autonomy, Carney has assured that no projects will proceed without their consent. However, some provinces, including Alberta and British Columbia, have expressed differing views on specific projects. Responding to US Trade Pressures The introduction of the "One Canadian Economy" bill comes in the wake of increased US tariffs on Canadian exports. Carney has labeled these tariffs as "unlawful" and emphasized the need for Canada to bolster its domestic economy. Carney's approach includes engaging with the oil industry to balance environmental goals with economic growth. Also Read: Why bananas may soon be a luxury in America; Chiquita's layoffs in Panama hold the answer Discussions have centered around supporting new pipelines and carbon capture initiatives, aiming to position Canada as an energy leader while reducing reliance on U.S. markets. Legislative Outlook The government wants to pass the "One Canadian Economy" bill before Parliament's summer recess, though the timeline remains tight. As a minority government, the Liberals will need to garner support from opposition parties to ensure the bill's passage. The outcome will significantly influence Canada's economic strategy and its ability to navigate current and future trade challenges. This legislative effort represents a bold move toward unifying Canada's internal market and enhancing its economic sovereignty. If successful, it could pave the way for increased domestic trade, improved infrastructure, and a more resilient national economy.
National Observer
a day ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Bill to fast-track projects gets instant pushback from climate groups and First Nations
The federal government's new bill to fast-track projects 'in the national interest' sparked immediate concerns from the Assembly of First Nations and Canada's largest network of labour unions, climate, environmental and faith groups and Indigenous organizations. If it becomes law, the federal government will essentially be able to approve certain projects before federal regulatory processes take place. Environmental and other concerns will no longer be able to stop these projects, but mechanisms will be put in place to mitigate any harms. 'Green-lighting major projects up front, before asking how they would affect communities, is nonsensical,' Alex Cool-Fergus, national policy manager at Climate Action Network Canada said in a press release. 'Bypassing democratic norms under the pretext of a 'crisis' is a tactic as old as time. This government must do better.' Bill C-5 has already prompted the Assembly of First Nations to call an emergency meeting. 'The Assembly of First Nations remains deeply concerned about the lack of time and appropriate process to carry out the Crown's consultation and consent obligations, especially given the potentially massive impact on the rights of First Nations,' AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said in a statement. At a press conference Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Mark Carney clarified that the federal government 'will not impose a project on a province.' 'Bypassing democratic norms under the pretext of a 'crisis' is a tactic as old as time," Alex Cool-Fergus, national policy manager at Climate Action Network Canada said of the federal government's new legislation to fast-track major projects. 'We need consensus behind these projects and we need the participation of Indigenous peoples,' Carney said at a press conference on Friday. This week, BC Premier David Eby said he will not support Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's vision of building a new oil pipeline to BC's north coast. Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said caucus will discuss whether to support the legislation (which also enacts the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act, intended to reduce interprovincial trade barriers). Poilievre said it's 'troubling' Carney is giving provinces veto power when Eby has said no to 'the most promising pipeline.' Asked why provinces shouldn't be able to say no, Poilievre said they 'need to start saying 'Yes.'' The bill, tabled in the House of Commons by Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, would give Ottawa the authority to draw up a list of large projects it wants to prioritize and expedite their federal approval. When a project is deemed in the national interest and added to the list, it will be considered to be conditionally approved from the outset. The project will go through existing review processes such as the federal Impact Assessment Act, but the focus will be on 'how' instead of 'whether' it can be built. The bill sets out several criteria to evaluate whether a project is in the national interest. These criteria include whether a project strengthens Canada's autonomy, resilience and security; provides economic or other benefits to Canada; has a high likelihood of successful execution; advances the interests of Indigenous Peoples; and contributes to clean growth and to Canada's objectives with respect to climate change. In a background press briefing a government official said these are considerations, not a checklist, and other factors can also be considered. What it means for a project to 'contribute to clean growth and to Canada's objectives with respect to climate change' is not defined in the legislation. The cabinet and the governor in council, in consultation with provinces, territories and Indigenous Peoples, will have the discretion to define that, according to a government official. Consultation with Indigenous Peoples would happen before a project is listed. After that, staff in a new federal major projects office will help coordinate the federal review processes that determine what conditions the project must meet. This means public consultation and comment will take place after a project has already received a 'yes.' Projects will have to be at a certain state of readiness to be listed for fast-tracking, a government official explained on background. The process for how proponents can submit projects is separate from the legislation and will require consultation with Indigenous Peoples, provinces and territories. Details will be shared 'over the summer,' the official said. The federal government's goal to get projects through in no more than two years means the clock will start when a project gets listed (approved and designated for fast tracking) and end when the regulatory processes have been completed and conditions set. This goal is political, not legislated. 'Those two years are consulting with Indigenous Peoples understanding impacts on rights, specific measures to accommodate them, understanding specific interactions with the environment," a government official said, adding it takes two years to properly develop the conditions. Responding to the new legislation, Environmental Defence said projects that should be deemed in the national interest include things like a resilient electricity grid with new east-west interties and with access for solar, wind and storage; scaled-up public transportation; building millions of green, energy-efficient and affordable homes and more.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
LILLEY: Carney puts together new team of Trudeau has-beens
Mark Carney is showing that he is the agent of change by appointing two former Trudeau cabinet ministers as his top advisers. Marco Mendicino is Carney's chief of staff, David Lametti is part of Carney's transition team. Mendicino and Lametti were famous while in cabinet for joking about how many tanks were needed for quelling the Freedom Convoy in 2022. 'You need to get the police to move. And the CAF if necessary. Too many people are being seriously adversely impacted by what is an occupation,' Lametti, then the justice minister, texted Mendicino, then the public safety minister. That was in early February 2022, just days after the convoy arrived in Ottawa. 'How many tanks are you asking for?' Mendicino asked. 'I reckon one will do!!' was Lametti's reply. That's not a good look for Carney and his incoming team. Even people who had no time for the Freedom Convoy recoiled at two senior cabinet ministers in the Trudeau government talking about using tanks to quell a domestic political protest. Now, these two men are top advisers to Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney. Mendicino was dropped from cabinet in July 2023 after a series of missteps. He lied about police asking for the Emergencies Act to be invoked to end the convoy, he introduced gun legislation that would ban common hunting rifles and shotguns and was denounced by Indigenous leaders, and he seemed incompetent when he couldn't provide answers on serial killer Paul Bernardo being transferred to a medium security prison. Lametti was a law professor at McGill University espousing bizarre left-wing theories before seeking office in the 2015 election. In 2019, Lametti was made justice minister after Justin Trudeau moved Jody Wilson-Raybould out of the portfolio because she refused to give SNC-Lavalin a sweetheart deal in their prosecution over fraud and corruption allegations. Trudeau was found to have violated the ethics rules by trying to improperly influence Wilson-Raybould in the SNC-Lavalin affair. Lametti defended the government's actions throughout the scandal. People at the centre of some of Trudeau's worst political moments are now the top advisers to Carney, the agent of change. Carney himself has been the chief economic adviser to the Trudeau government since the summer of 2020. That's almost five years. His campaign team was made of Gerry Butts, he received support from people like Katie Telford, most of the PMO and the majority of Trudeau's cabinet. There is no way that Carney can claim to be the agent of change that he wants to be. Just look at some of the bills that Lametti promoted as justice minister. LILLEY: Call an election now so Canada has a government with a mandate LILLEY: Carney's Liberal coronation is just what Trudeau ordered With Bill C-5, introduced by Lametti, the Liberals scrapped mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders for crimes such as gun smuggling and gun trafficking. With Bill C-75, championed by Lametti but introduced by Wilson-Raybould, bail became the default position that all judges and justices of the peace were instructed to take. Carney has just hired one of the architects of the Trudeau government's soft-on-crime approach to help him bring change. Do you trust him or his team to actually deliver change? The Carney team who takes issue with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre saying that Canada is broken wants you to forget about the broken justice system, the broken jail system, the broken immigration system, our that housing prices having doubled. All the people responsible for those files under Trudeau now support or are working for Carney, the man promising change from the Trudeau government. They've changed the guy out front. The rest of the team, the rest of the policies, are the same as the failed policies that have brought Canada to this point.
