The Prime Minister’s Office announced on Friday that Calgary will house the headquarters of Ottawa’s one-stop shop for businesses to pitch plans for large industrial construction projects. Dawn Farrell, the former CEO of Trans Mountain, will be in charge of the organization. The major projects office is part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s strategy to expedite approval of large, national projects. “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,” Carney posted on social media Friday.
In June, the Liberal government rushed through Bill C-5, which established a framework for a new approvals procedure for large-scale projects, such as ports, energy infrastructure, and road infrastructure, that the government believes are in the national interest and could contribute to economic growth. The bill drew the ire of a number of Indigenous and environmental groups, who were concerned that the new law might limit people’s ability to be consulted and harm the environment. The office announcement on Friday did nothing to allay those concerns. The opening of the Major Federal Projects Office under the guise of national interest is nothing short of the government deliberately sidestepping its duty to consult and co-operate with First Nations,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Chief Indians. The prime minister’s messages have become more like an ultimatum than an invitation to partnership: get on board or get out of the way. First Nations are not opposed to responsible development; rather, we are opposed to the disregard of our constitutional and inherent rights. However, it appeared to be politically strategic to locate it in Calgary, where numerous oil and gas companies with plans to construct new pipelines have their headquarters.
Ottawa’s major projects office to be headed by former Trans Mountain CEO
