The federal government’s Bill C-5 is expected to give major project investment in Canada a significant boost, attendees were told during a recent panel discussion held in Toronto: “What needs to change to get major projects and key infrastructure built in Ontario?”
Bill C-5, formally known as the One Canadian Economy: An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, received royal assent June 26, 2025 and represents “recognition within the Canadian population that it’s time to start building things,” says pannellist Brad Gilmour, partner, and Co-Chair, Environmental Disputes, Investigations and Enforcement Group.
The intent of the Building Canada Act is to have the federal government — in consultation with the provinces, territories and Indigenous groups — identity projects of national interest which will be placed on a special Schedule 1 list. Once on the list, it becomes very difficult for its removal. The legislation also stipulated that any changes in relation to the project must be “directionally favorable.” “This is a message to investors that, once you’re on the list, you’re going to get approved,” says Brad. “It’s also a message to regulators that the project needs to proceed through the review process swiftly.”
The Act further provides for the creation of a Major Federal Projects Office. “This office will play a key role in managing the regulatory bureaucracy and getting fast project approvals,” says Brad. “It is also giving investors certainty that they’re not going to go through the process and then have their permits revoked in the end because of a change in government.”
“It’s encouraging to see governments across Canada taking concrete steps to deal with the inefficiencies of the major project approval process,” says Richard King, partner and Co-Chair, Regulatory, Indigenous and Environmental Group, who was the panel discussion moderator.
Apart from Brad Gilmour, the pannellists were Laurie Swami, President and CEO, Nuclear Waste Management Organization; Serge Imbrogno, former Deputy Minister at Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks and Ministry of Energy; and Stephen Crozier, Vice President, Sustainability, Wyloo.
