Prime Minister Mark Carney used the BC Hydro Skeena Substation near Terrace, B.C., this morning as a backdrop to announce six new projects slated for fast-tracking by the new federal Major Project Office.
Two of those projects, the Ksi Lisims natural gas liquefaction facility, and the BC Hydro North Coast Transmission Line are in northern B.C.
The North Coast Transmission Line will ultimately feed the Skeena Substation and is expected to provide clean power to major projects such as Cedar LNG and LNG Canada in Kitimat.
Carney also announced the Canada Infrastructure Bank will loan BC Hydro $140 million to complete the project.
The Ksi Lisims project is a floating facility north of Prince Rupert, proposed to process natural gas from northeastern B.C. for export to Asia.
“We used to build in this country, and we are building this nation again,” Carney said.
The other projects are the Sission Mine (critical minerals) in New Brunswick, the Crawford Nickel project in Ontario, a hydro project in Iqaluit, and the Nouveau Monde Graphite project in Quebec.
Carney said these projects tie into broader strategies to strengthen Canada, including becoming an “energy superpower.”
These six projects are added to the first round of five projects announced in September.
That list also included two northwest B.C. projects, the LNG Canada Phase 2 expansion in Kitimat, and the Red Chris Copper-Gold Mine expansion.
The federal government created the MPO in August to fast-track ‘nation-building’ projects in critical minerals, energy, and infrastructure deemed to be in the ‘national interest.’
The office seeks to streamline approvals for major projects by coordinating federal and intergovernmental reviews, and by coordinating financing through the Canada Infrastructure Bank and Canada Growth Fund.
The federal government has promised it will do this while still balancing environmental and First Nations concerns.
The 2025 federal budget allocates just over $200 million for MPO operations and an additional $10 million for First Nations consultation.
In his address to the media gathered at the substation, Carney said these projects contribute to the interests of First Nations and sustainability goals.
Some First Nations and environmental leadership are skeptical, however.
Outside of the Skeena Substation, a group of representatives from the Gitxsan, Gitanyow, and Wet’suwet’en Nations, and the Kispiox Valley Community Association, responded to the prime minister’s announcement.
They oppose the fast-tracking of large industrial projects in northwest B.C. and have launched a lawsuit against the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline project, which is proposed to feed the Ksi Lisims LNG processing plant.
The Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla First Nations also have an ongoing legal challenge against the Ksi Lisims project itself, claiming it threatens their territorial waters.
-With files from Jake Wray