What Is the Building Canada Strong Act?
The Building Canada Strong Act is a proposed federal framework covering infrastructure project reviews, transportation corridors, ports and labour rules.
One of its central proposals is to ensure that federal reviews and decisions are completed within one year after a project proponent submits a comprehensive application.
The government says the changes are intended to provide greater certainty for project proponents and Indigenous groups involved in consultations, while giving investors clearer timelines for major projects.
The legislation has not become law yet. It will go through parliamentary review and further engagement with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, environmental organizations, industry and labour groups.
One-Year Timeline for Federal Reviews
The proposed one-year timeline is one of the most significant elements of Bill C-39.
Under the proposed framework, federal reviews and decisions would be completed within one year once a comprehensive application has been submitted.
The government has also issued a separate Cabinet Directive directing federal reviews and project decisions to be completed in no more than one year.
The proposed changes are aimed at reducing uncertainty around major projects and creating a more predictable regulatory process.
Changes Could Affect Trade Corridors and Ports
The legislation also focuses on Canada's transportation infrastructure.
The proposed measures would allow Canada to formally designate strategic trade corridors and address infrastructure bottlenecks. A new transportation project office would coordinate federal permitting and work to advance priority transportation projects within a one-year period.
The government also proposes modernizing port governance and advancing digital strategies for trade.
These measures are intended to help Canadian goods move through transportation networks more efficiently and connect businesses with international markets.
Environmental Protection and Indigenous Rights Remain Part of the Framework
The proposed legislation would maintain federal environmental assessments and safeguards.
The government says the framework would maintain rigorous standards for environmental protection while respecting Indigenous rights and Canada's obligations relating to consultation, modern treaties and self-government agreements.
The government also says project reviews and decisions would apply environmental mitigation measures.
This means the proposed faster timelines would operate alongside responsibilities surrounding environmental assessment and Indigenous consultation.
Labour Rules Are Also Included
Bill C-39 goes beyond infrastructure approvals.
The proposed legislation includes changes to the federal labour framework and the Canada Labour Code. The government says the measures would help parties address issues earlier, reach negotiated agreements and resolve disputes while protecting the right to strike.
The government says it will add 100 health and safety officers, increasing inspection capacity by approximately 70%.
Another 26 staff members would be added to the Canada Industrial Relations Board to help clear a backlog of worker complaints against employers.
The legislation also proposes additional measures targeting worker misclassification.
Government Says It Will Advance the Proposals
The government says it is moving to advance the proposals through parliamentary review and continued collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, environmental non-governmental organizations, industry and unions.
The proposed measures were informed by cross-country engagement with workers, unions, employers, Indigenous Peoples, provinces and territories, industry and other partners. The government says it received more than 26,000 responses and held 78 engagement sessions during consultations this summer.
In parallel with the legislation, the government has issued a Cabinet Directive calling for federal reviews and project decisions to be completed in no more than one year. It says those decisions will align with priorities for economic growth and security, Indigenous reconciliation and environmental protection, including a mitigation hierarchy policy for project reviews and decisions.
What Happens Next?
The proposed legislation now moves into the parliamentary process.
Further review and discussion will determine how the proposed measures develop before any final legislation takes effect.
For major infrastructure projects, the key issue will be how the proposed timelines work alongside environmental assessments, Indigenous consultation, federal permitting and other regulatory requirements.
For now, Bill C-39 represents a proposed change to Canada's approach to getting major projects through the federal approval process, with a one-year review and decision framework at the centre of the plan.