By Jamie Hyland, MiningIR
Ottawa, Ontario — Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the creation of the Major Projects Office (MPO) on Friday, a new federal initiative to accelerate approval and financing of large-scale projects across Canada. The MPO will target critical mineral developments, ports, railways, and clean energy initiatives — all viewed as essential to strengthening Canada’s competitiveness and creating high-paying jobs.
Headquartered in Calgary, with offices in other major cities, the MPO will act as a single point of contact to speed up approvals. Its mandate includes streamlining regulatory processes, creating a unified set of conditions, and cutting approval timelines for projects of national interest to a maximum of two years. The Building Canada Act, passed in June, established the legislative framework for this “one project, one review” model while embedding Indigenous partnership requirements into all major projects.
“Canada has always been a nation of builders, from the St. Lawrence Seaway to Expo 67. At this hinge moment in our history, Canada must draw on this legacy and act decisively to transform our economy from reliance to resilience. We are moving at a speed not seen in generations to build ports, railways, energy grids – the major projects that will unlock Canada’s full economic potential and build Canada strong. I am thrilled that Dawn Farrell, one of Canada’s most experienced executives, is stepping up to help lead this vital priority.”
— The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
The government named Dawn Farrell as the MPO’s first Chief Executive Officer. Farrell has four decades of leadership in the energy sector, including roles at Trans Mountain Corporation, TransAlta, and BC Hydro.
“The Major Projects Office is a radically new way of doing business and getting big things built: different machinery, people, skills, and processes. The MPO will facilitate the process of building critical new infrastructure at speeds not seen in generations; infrastructure to diversify our trading relationship and to become an energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy.”
— The Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy
“At this pivotal moment, we must embrace new ways of doing business in order to build the strongest Canada. We are making good on our promise to move quickly to unlock private sector investment, provide investor certainty, and advance Indigenous reconciliation and protect our environment. The new Major Projects Office will drive this progress, ensuring projects are structured for success via ‘one project, one review’, so we can become an energy and natural resource superpower.”
— The Hon. Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
For decades, Canada’s major infrastructure ambitions have been slowed by drawn-out, inefficient approval processes — delaying projects and sidelining billions in potential investment. Today, Ottawa is signaling a decisive shift. The new government is moving with urgency to cut red tape, fast-track approvals, and unlock the projects that can transform Canada’s economy into the strongest in the G7.
“Through the Major Projects Office, we will deliver faster on projects that strengthen resiliency, prosperity, and security in the North and benefit all of Canada. The MPO will help us do things more effectively, in accordance with modern treaty-based impact assessment and regulatory processes and in close partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Northerners – so that these important projects reflect their realities and priorities.”
— The Hon. Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
The MPO will also coordinate financing with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the Canada Growth Fund, and the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program, now expanded to $10 billion. The government said the first slate of projects to be fast-tracked will be announced in the coming weeks, with critical minerals and clean energy expected to feature prominently.
