Nature of risk
While positioned as a strategy to boost energy security and economic growth, the bill significantly weakens environmental safeguards and public accountability. Fast-tracking approvals may bypass meaningful Indigenous consultation, limit environmental impact assessments, and expedite the development of carbon-intensive infrastructure. This creates a high risk of locking in long-term emissions, undermining Canada's climate targets.
Policy summary
What changed
In June 2025, Canada's Senate passed legislation aimed at accelerating the approval process for major natural resource and infrastructure projects. The bill enables the federal government to designate certain developments, such as oil pipelines, mines, and LNG facilities as "projects of national interest," allowing them to bypass parts of the usual regulatory review process. It also includes measures to reduce internal trade barriers between provinces, ostensibly to improve economic efficiency and interprovincial cooperation.
Primary source