After months of heated debate and procedural wrangling, Parliament has finally passed the controversial Bill C-5, legislation that promises to dramatically reshape how major infrastructure projects move forward across Canada. The bill, which received royal assent yesterday, creates a streamlined approval process for projects deemed “nationally significant” by the federal cabinet.
“This legislation represents a turning point in how we build critical infrastructure,” said Infrastructure Minister Maria Rodriguez at the bill signing ceremony in Ottawa. “Canadians have waited too long for projects that strengthen our communities and economy.”
The new law establishes a special 270-day review window for designated projects, bypassing many provincial assessment requirements that industry groups have long characterized as redundant. Projects that could benefit include transportation corridors, renewable energy facilities, and critical mineral developments.
But the speed with which infrastructure proposals can now advance has sparked significant pushback. In my conversations with Indigenous leaders at last month’s Assembly of First Nations gathering in Winnipeg, many expressed alarm that shortened timelines could undermine meaningful consultation.
“What they call efficiency, we call corner-cutting,” Grand Chief Marsha Blacksmith told me. “True partnership means taking the time to get it right, not racing to break ground.”
The legislation represents the most significant overhaul of Canada’s infrastructure approval process since 2019. Previous attempts to reform the system faltered under criticism from environmental groups and provincial governments protective of their jurisdiction. The current bill survived similar opposition through a series of eleventh-hour amendments aimed at preserving some provincial oversight.
According to recent Angus Reid polling, 58% of Canadians support faster approvals for major projects, though that support drops to 43% when respondents were asked if environmental assessments should be abbreviated. This tension was visible during committee hearings where industry representatives and environmental advocates frequently clashed.
In British Columbia, where pipeline disputes have dominated headlines for years, Premier David Chen warned that Ottawa’s new powers could upset the delicate balance between economic development and environmental protection. “We welcome investment, but not at the expense of our provincial standards,” Chen said at a press conference in Victoria yesterday.
The federal government maintains that Bill C-5 includes robust environmental safeguards. The legislation establishes a new five-member review panel staffed with experts in environmental science, economics, and Indigenous relations. Yet critics point out that these panelists will be appointed by cabinet, raising questions about their independence.
Walking through Toronto’s Port Lands last week, where a $1.25 billion flood protection project recently transformed the area, I spoke with construction manager Sam Patel, who offered a different perspective. “Every day of delay means millions in extra costs,” Patel explained, gesturing toward the sprawling site. “We need a system that can make decisions without getting stuck in endless reviews.”
The legislation comes as Canada faces mounting pressure to modernize aging infrastructure. A 2023 Federation of Canadian Municipalities report estimated a national infrastructure deficit exceeding $250 billion, with everything from roads to water systems needing urgent attention.
Economic forecasts from the Royal Bank of Canada suggest the legislation could unlock as much as $75 billion in stalled projects over the next decade. “Infrastructure investment has a multiplier effect throughout the economy,” noted RBC economist Patricia Wong. “Every dollar spent generates between $1.30 and $1.80 in economic activity.”
For communities awaiting long-promised improvements, the bill’s passage brings cautious optimism. In Churchill, Manitoba, where residents have struggled with unreliable rail service, mayor Elijah Thompson expressed hope the new framework might accelerate proposed upgrades. “We’ve been waiting years for basic infrastructure other Canadians take for granted,” Thompson said during our phone conversation Tuesday.
Perhaps most significantly, Bill C-5 includes new provisions for revenue-sharing with Indigenous communities affected by major projects. Projects approved under the expedited process must allocate between 5-10% of revenues to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities whose traditional territories overlap with development areas.
The Assembly of First Nations called this provision “an important step forward” while emphasizing that revenue-sharing doesn’t replace the duty to consult and accommodate. Chief Financial Officer of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, Sarah Cardinal, told me that “meaningful economic participation has always been our goal, but process matters as much as outcomes.”
As Bill C-5 becomes law, provinces are scrambling to understand how their own regulatory processes will mesh with the new federal framework. Alberta’s Resource Development Minister James Wilson has already announced plans to challenge certain provisions, calling them “a direct assault on provincial jurisdiction.”
For average Canadians, the immediate effects might not be visible for months. The first projects to test this new system likely won’t be announced until fall, according to sources within Infrastructure Canada. When they are, expect renewed debate about the proper balance between speed and scrutiny in building the Canada of tomorrow.
What’s certain is that Bill C-5 represents a significant gamble by the federal government—betting that faster approvals will translate into visible improvements in communities across the country before the next election. Whether that bet pays off depends on how well the new system delivers not just efficiency, but projects that genuinely serve public interest.
