The initial stretch of the main projects that the federal government expects to take off includes expanding the production of liquefied natural gas in BC and improving the port in Montreal, according to CBC News.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to present a list of five “Construction of the Nation” projects on Thursday morning. The list is sent to the newly created main project office for consideration.
The list was printed in a draft press release shared with CBC News. The document was verified by a source that spoke under confidentiality. According to that list, the projects are:
- Phase two of LNG Canada in Kitimat, BC, double its production of liquefied natural gas.
- Darlington’s new nuclear project in Clarington, Ontario, which will make small modular reactors.
- Terminal container project that will expand the port of Montreal.
- The Milvenna Bay Fortan Copper Mine project in Saskatchewan.
- The expansion of the red chris mine in northwestern BC
Besides, CBC News has learned that Carney will also appoint additional projects that are in an earlier stage and will require greater development, but it could be part of the next wave for consideration:
- Wind West Atlantic Energy, supporting wind energy in the Atlantic of Canada.
- The Carbon Bathways Plus Carbon capture project based in Alberta.
- An Arctic Economic and Security Corridor.
- Updates to the port of Churchill.
- Road infrastructure for all climate in northern Canada;
- The high -speed high railway corridor between Toronto and the Quebec city.
Speaking to his Caucus in Edmonton, Carney said on Wednesday that the projects would “turbocate” the economy “, diversify our products and build new markets and create those hundreds of thousands of high payment races for our workers, from trades to technology.”
The projects “will increase our independence, will boost our economy, will align with the interests of indigenous peoples and advance our climatic goals,” they told their liberal parliamentarians to gather before the return of Parliament next week.
The sources of CBC News and Radio-Canadá say that the reason of the government to have a multi-level list is partly because some projects are more advanced and ready to be approved by the main project office.
Others have been identified but require more consultations and development, these sources said.
The sources previously told radio-channel that the first lot of projects will not include an oil pipe.
Although an oil pipe is not included in the first lot of projects, a liberal source insisted that the absence of a pipe in the initial list does not mean that one never happens.
The prime minister has emphasized the importance of reaching a consensus with the provinces and aligning with the interests of indigenous communities.
Alberta Prime Minister Danielle Smith told reporters in Calgary that he will not worry about an oil pipe that is not on the initial list.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says that the new Government’s important project office (MPO) will be based in Calgary. Dawn Farrell, president of the Board of Directors of Trans Mountain Corporation, will be the CEO. The MPO will identify projects in Canada’s national interest and help accelerate them. Acton Clarkin of the CBC has a reaction from Alberta Prime Minister Danielle Smith and the mayor of Calgary Jyoti Gondek.
“The list is going to be a perennial list,” said Smith.
“It is not, ‘oh, my God, this is all, you can’t add anything else.’ And so, we have a little work to do to get to an environment where oil companies want to expand their production.”
Smith said he has the hope that “in a short time, we can take this to the finish line together.”
Radio-Canada also reported that Carney told Smith earlier this summer that the participation of a private developer was essential for a pipe project to advance.
Until now, no company has expressed interest in financing or carrying out this project.
Parliament accelerated an act of Canadian economy quickly
During the spring of Parliament, the liberals approved the One Canadian Economy Law, or the bill C-5, which essentially gave the cabinet the ability to choose certain projects to accelerate the regulatory process.
It is a key promise of Carney, who campaigned in “Build Big, Build Bold” during the period prior to spring elections.
The conservatives supported the bill as a whole, while the NDP and the Québécois block supported a part of the bill that eliminates internal commercial barriers.
Some indigenous and environmental groups, together with the parliamentarians, some within the Liberal Party, had expressed concerns about the lack of consultation on the bill and the radical powers he granted.
Carney announced on Wednesday that 11 indigenous leaders throughout the country will form an advisory council for the Office of Main Projects.
“They will help guide the [office’s] Work to ensure that important projects believe opportunities for capital property and the management of responsible resources through significant participation with indigenous peoples, “said a press release from the Prime Minister’s office.
