6 Key Takeaways From Carney’s Second Major Projects Announcement

Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled the latest list of major projects his government is referring to the Major Projects Office (MPO) for approval.

The Building Canada Act, passed in June as part of Bill C-5, gives the federal government the ability to designate certain “nation-building” projects for streamlined review and approval through the MPO, which was launched in August.

Carney announced the second set of major projects being referred to the MPO on Nov. 13, following his first announcement of five major projects and six “strategies for projects” in September.

The new list includes mining projects in New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project and a transmission line in B.C., and a hydroelectricity project in Nunavut.

Here are six takeaways from Carney’s latest announcement.

Heavy on Critical Minerals

Carney’s latest list of projects aligns with Ottawa’s push to develop Canada’s critical minerals sector. The list includes three mining projects: Northcliff Resources’ Sisson Mine in New Brunswick, Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Matawinie Mine in Quebec, and Canada Nickel’s Crawford project in Ontario.

The Sisson Mine will produce tungsten, which is used in high-strength steel production, defence, and industrial applications, while the Matawinie Mine will produce graphite used in defence applications and battery supply chains, and the Crawford project will produce nickel used in batteries and green steel.

Ottawa joined other G7 leaders in launching a Critical Minerals Action Plan and the Critical Minerals Production Alliance in June, with Carney noting the important role such minerals play in expanding the country’s defence plan.

Budget 2025 also includes a number of measures to help develop Canada’s critical minerals industry, including allocating $2 billion over five years to a Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund to invest in projects.

“We put together a critical minerals strategy that will encourage exploration, accelerate project development, [and] support essential infrastructure,” Carney said while announcing the new list of major projects at a Nov. 13 press conference.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said on Nov. 10 that refining critical minerals is “the name of the game” for Canada to become a competitive supplier.

Continued Push for LNG

Carney’s new list of projects includes another LNG project in British Columbia, Ksi Lisims LNG, similar to the first round of major projects that included the second phase of LNG Canada in Kitimat, B.C.

“LNG is an essential fuel for the energy transition,” Carney said at the Nov. 13 press conference. “LNG can help Canada build new trading relationships, especially in fast-growing markets in Asia. By 2040, it’s estimated the global LNG demand will rise by 60 percent, and Canada will be ready.”

Ksi Lisims LNG will become Canada’s second-largest LNG facility and “one of the world’s lowest-emission LNG operations” once it’s fully electrified, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The project is expected to generate nearly $30 billion in investment, create thousands of jobs, and strengthen Canada’s position as a global LNG exporter. Ksi Lisims LNG is expected to have a capacity of 12 million tonnes per year of LNG destined for markets primarily in Asia.

The project includes a new gas pipeline to supply feed gas for liquefaction, a new electricity transmission line, and a floating LNG facility and marine terminal located on Pearse Island, B.C. The PMO says that by building the second phase of LNG Canada and Ksi Lisims LNG, Canada can more than double its LNG production.

When asked by reporters on Nov. 13 about the project being partially American-owned and built in Korea with Korean and Chinese steel, Carney noted the pipeline and transmission line portions of the project are First Nation owned. “The first principle of these projects is it’s in the interests of Canada,” he said.

Indigenous Emphasis

Two projects being referred to the MPO have connections to indigenous groups—the Nisga’a Nation is a proponent of the Ksi Lisims LNG project in British Columbia, and the Qikiqtani Inuit owns 100 percent of the Iqaluit Nukkiksautiit Hydro Project.

Carney said he is “encouraged” by the scale of indigenous support when it comes to the Ksi Lisims LNG project and noted that indigenous groups have “central roles” when it comes to major projects.

When asked by reporters about indigenous opposition to fast-tracking projects, such as two legal challenges to Ksi Lisims LNG, Carney responded that running into conflict with indigenous groups is “certainly not the approach that we’re taking.” He noted the federal government is engaging indigenous groups in the consultation process and is “putting on the table huge financing for indigenous equity ownership.”

Carney said “a crucial component” to the financial investment decision in major projects is “full First Nations partnership and participation.”

Provinces, Territories Without a Project

Similar to Carney’s first round of projects, provinces like Alberta and Manitoba still do not have a major project yet.

While British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec now have multiple major projects that have been referred to the MPO, Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, P.E.I., and the territories have yet to see a project in their respective regions recommended for fast-tracking.

During Carney’s first projects announcement in September, he announced six “strategies for projects” that included a Wind West Atlantic Energy project in Nova Scotia, the Pathways Plus project in Alberta, the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor infrastructure project, and the Port of Churchill Plus project in Manitoba. However, these projects were still in early stages and needed further development before being recommended to the MPO for approval, Carney had said.

Carney mentioned on Nov. 13 that the North Coast Transmission Line has the potential to be connected with the Yukon to increase the territory’s energy security and affordability, and with Alberta to optimize the province’s energy reliability and sustainability.

No Oil Pipelines

While Carney’s new list of projects included a gas pipeline as part of the Ksi Lisims LNG project, there was no mention of an oil pipeline.

During the previous projects announcement, Ottawa said it was examining a new carbon capture project called Pathways Plus, which Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has pushed for as part of initiatives to reduce emissions and enable more oil and gas projects. Although the project didn’t make it onto either list of “nation-building” projects, it was listed as one of “several strategies” that the federal government is reviewing.

Carney told reporters on Nov. 13 that discussions with Smith are still in the works, adding that there are “a few more issues that we’re working on, ironing out.” He noted the Pathways project is “a huge opportunity” for Canada to develop a new industry in decarbonized oil and gas.

There was also renewed talk about restarting the Keystone XL pipeline after Carney met with U.S. President Donald Trump in October, but the project already has the approvals it needs and likely wouldn’t fall under the framework of major projects.

Meanwhile, the Ontario government announced last month that it awarded a contract to complete a feasibility study on establishing new pipelines running from Alberta to Ontario.

Smith has also submitted a pipeline project to the MPO to transport the province’s oil and gas to the B.C. coast for export to international markets. Smith has said she wants the project to meet initial regulatory requirements through the MPO to make it more attractive for private investors.

Second Batch of Projects Not as Advanced as the First

The first batch of projects announced in September were largely in advanced stages of approval, having also largely cleared indigenous consultations, and were considered to be low-risk. The new list includes more projects at earlier approval stages.

Ksi Lisims LNG is currently undergoing environmental assessments, indigenous and public consultations, and preliminary engineering. Construction could begin this year with regulatory approvals and final investment decisions by the project partners, with the site becoming operational in 2029.

The Crawford project is currently assessing its impacts and engaging in indigenous and public consultations. Similarly, the Iqaluit Nukkiksautiit Project is conducting field studies and public consultations, while its engineering team creates project concepts.

The North Coast Transmission Line is currently undergoing studies and regulatory approvals. The project’s two phases are expected to begin construction next year, with the first phase becoming operational in 2030 and the second phase becoming operational in 2032.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Carney’s announcement, saying the projects announced “were already going to happen.”

“Most of these projects were on the verge of happening anyway as they have already gone through years and years of Liberal bureaucracy,” Poilievre said at a Nov. 13 press conference in Kelowna, B.C.

Matthew Horwood and Noé Chartier contributed to this report.