CBC News
· collected 2026-09-28 · by David Thurton, Olivia Stefanovich
What experts are saying about Ottawa's new major projects bill
Feds call it one of the most important bills in a generation
The new Building Canada Strong Act contains a list of measures that Prime Minister Mark Carney says will get projects moving faster in the face of major threats to Canada's economy from U.S. President Donald Trump.
asserted
projects → say → Trump
But experts warn Bill C-39 could also dismantle environmental safeguards that protect Canadians and prevent wildlife from extinction, despite the federal government claiming otherwise.
uncertain
government → warn → extinction
"It greatly saddens me that in standing up to bullying from the United States, we are willing to put some of the things that make Canada so special on the table," said Gretchen Fitzgerald, executive director of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation.
asserted
Fitzgerald → sadden → Foundation
When he tabled Bill C-39, government House leader Steven MacKinnon called it one of the most important economic pieces of legislation in a generation, adding that its purpose is to make project decisions in one year.
asserted
purpose → table → year
Tucked inside are a dizzying array of more than 300 clauses that amend more than a dozen separate pieces of federal legislation, including laws to protect species at risk, water quality and fisheries.
asserted
that → tuck → risk
Not to mention proposed changes to the Labour Code, which have upset unions.
asserted
which → mention → unions
CBC News combed through the bill's more than 200 pages and spoke with environmental and resource development experts about its impact.
asserted
News → comb → impact
Typically before construction can begin on projects like mines, railways and ports, the environment and climate change minister needs to sign off on an impact assessment review — a thorough evaluation of a proposed project's potential environmental, social, economic and health effects.
asserted
minister → begin → effects
Under the new bill, Ottawa could grant permits for preliminary construction before the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada completes its work — if the environment minister considers it "enabling activities" and in the "public interest."
uncertain
it → grant → interest
It would still maintain the right to stop a project if an impact assessment determines it should not go forward.
asserted
it → maintain → project
The federal government insists the environment won't be harmed.
asserted
environment → insist → ?
"We are not rolling back our environmental regulations," said Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin.
asserted
Dabrusin → roll → regulations
But critics say the proposed legislation will claw back environmental protections, and that its vague wording asks the public to place too much trust in the government's interpretation of the bill.
"I want to see evidence that our government understands what the national interest is because I think it's in our national interest not to poison our lakes and rivers," said Megan Leslie, president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund Canada.
asserted
Leslie → say → Canada
"I think it's in our national interest to have safe communities when it comes to floods and fires.…
asserted
it → think → floods
It's in our national interest not to have species go extinct."
asserted
species → have → interest
Heather Exner-Pirot, director of energy, natural resources and environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said the proposed legislation responds to the needs of industries to build faster.
asserted
legislation → say → industries
"Overall, it's very positive," she said.
asserted
she → say → ?
Exner-Pirot also said early construction will be done in narrow exceptions, such as minor work before winter.
asserted
construction → say → winter
"Canada's construction season is very constrained," Exner-Pirot said.
asserted
Pirot → say → ?
"And so if you can get something done … you can save months and millions or tens of millions of dollars on the project."
asserted
you → get → project
Henry VIII powers
The bill also makes permanent controversial sweeping powers in the Building Canada Act, Bill C-5, which the government passed last year promising they would be temporary.
asserted
they → make → which
Under C-5, Ottawa can exempt certain projects deemed in the national interest from a wide set of environmental regulations and acts of Parliament.
asserted
Ottawa → exempt → Parliament
Academics and critics accuse the government of inserting Henry VIII clauses, a reference to the autocratic King Henry VIII of England.
asserted
Academics → accuse → England
Alberta's West Coast pipeline and the Robert Banks Terminal 2 port expansion in B.C.'s lower mainland are on track to obtain this treatment.
asserted
pipeline → obtain → treatment
Experts say proposed Labour Code change spell legal trouble
Carney says he has a 'very clear mandate' to push through big changes
These powers were supposed to last five years.
asserted
powers → say → changes
But C-39 removes that sunset clause.
asserted
C-39 → remove → clause
Exner-Pirot said people shouldn't be worried.
asserted
people → say → ?
"Any Parliament can revoke laws that were made in the previous Parliament," she said.
asserted
she → revoke → Parliament
"If the people think it's being abused, then there will be an incentive for future governments to change that."
asserted
governments → think → that
Preapproval of projects over large regions
This new bill also expands the "project of national interest" concept to create entire regions of national interest.
asserted
bill → expand → interest
For this to happen, the government would need to conduct an environmental assessment of the region under consideration.
asserted
government → happen → consideration
Following such a study, cabinet would then be able to designate the entire area a region of national interest, giving Ottawa broad authority to approve future activities.
asserted
area → follow → activities
But federal officials told reporters the activities must adhere to specific types and criteria which Ottawa will outline when granting the designation.
asserted
Ottawa → tell → designation
For example, Ottawa could say that mining for critical minerals in the Ring of Fire is permitted along with any roads, bridges and high-voltage power lines, but a natural gas pipeline may not be allowed to go through the same area.
uncertain
pipeline → say → area
Environmentalists worry the government is putting speed and shareholders over survival of sensitive wildlife species and habitat.
asserted
government → worry → species
"It's essentially the Building Canada Act on steroids," said Julia Levin, associate director of Environmental Defence Canada, calling the regions "sacrifice zones where projects could get rubber stamped.
uncertain
projects → say → regions
But regions of national interest could also offer a path to advance renewable energy projects.
uncertain
regions → offer → projects
A regional assessment has been completed for wind development offshore of Nova Scotia.
asserted
assessment → complete → Scotia
The 300,000-square-kilometre study area could unlock significant sustainable power generation for the province and the country.
uncertain
area → unlock → province
"In some ways, for those who wanted to see clean energy projects and electrification and decarbonization fast-tracked, that's more possible than ever under this act," said David Wright, an environmental and energy law professor at the University of Calgary.
asserted
Wright → want → Calgary
…and 20 more, not listed.
The Aporia
