Conservatives Say Progress Lags on Major Projects as Government Tables Bill on Fast Approvals

The Conservatives are asking the government to show results on major project launches after the government tabled a sweeping bill this week, covering items like streamlining project approvals and labour code changes.

The federal government introduced Bill C-39 on Sept. 21, saying the legislation would speed up federal project approvals, strengthen transportation and trade infrastructure, and create new tools to resolve labour disputes.

The government said the proposed process would establish clearer timelines for federal reviews, reduce delays and duplication, and better co-ordinate permitting and environmental assessment processes.

“Today, we are applying the same urgency and efficiency to projects of all sizes across the economy,” Internal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said on Sept. 21. “One project, one review, and one year to a decision,” he added.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on Sept. 22 that the Liberal government had already introduced a “a sweeping new law” more than a year ago to ensure projects were built, referring to previous legislation to streamline major projects deemed to be of national interest by the government-created Major Projects Office.

He said so far the previous legislation, the One Canadian Economy Act, has only produced “a new government department that has still not approved a single new project.”

“Big talk. No results,” Poilievre said in a social media post, adding, “How many times will they hype up these grand announcements resulting in nothing?”

Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government’s newly tabled legislation would give investors greater certainty that “when Canada says it wants something built, Canadians will get it built.”

“We’re turning that global capital into opportunity for Canadian workers — unlocking more than $1 trillion in investment across our economy, from ports, roads and railways to mines and major energy projects,” Carney said on social media on Sept. 22.

Senior government officials told reporters on Sept. 21 that the new bill amends approval timelines in the Impact Assessment Act, while timelines for small and medium projects under the Energy Regulator and Nuclear Commission would be reduced from one year to six months.

Officials said that construction of projects deemed to be in national interest would be allowed to start before receiving all the necessary federal permits.

The government says since the MPO was established, 27 nation-building initiatives worth about $200 billion have been referred to the Major Projects Office.

Micah Green, Poilievre’s director of communications, wrote online that 500 national projects are still awaiting federal approval.

“We’ve heard this before. Carney already got sweeping new powers to fast-track projects. The results have not matched the rhetoric,” Green added.

Change to Labour Code

The new legislation also proposes changes to the Canada Labour Code, especially around Section 107, which allows the labour minister to have the Canada Industrial Relations Board step in to end a strike or lockout to maintain “industrial peace.”

The jobs minister must now declare that a dispute adversely affects “the national interest” and must consider a report from a new special mediator who will summarize the parties’ positions and offer recommendations toward a new collective agreement.

Andrew Scheer, the Conservatives’ House leader, said on Sept. 21 that the party can’t comment on the bill yet as it has just been tabled, but that the Conservatives “are on the side of workers.”

“We believe their paycheques should reflect work they’ve done,” Scheer continued.

Scheer said the government should put the focus on the issue of affordability, as Poilievre did during question period as the House of Commons returned from summer break on Sept. 20. Scheer said one of the biggest drivers of labour disputes is inflation, saying that when workers sign a new multi-year contract and receive pay increases, “massive tax hikes” erode their pay scales.

The NDP has spoken out against the changes outlined in the bill, with House leader Don Davies accusing the government of siding with wealthy investors instead of workers.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu says the legislation strengthens worker protections and expands mediation tools.

“Section 107 is meant to be a measure of last resort, and it will remain that when all other alternatives have been exhausted by the parties,” Hajdu said.

With files from the Canadian Press.