‘An important step’: Ottawa’s major project moves lauded by Calgary’s Chamber of Commerce

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith met with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa Friday morning in pursuit of finalizing the pipeline MOU.

Calgary’s Chamber of Commerce is lauding Ottawa’s recent major project moves.

But the chamber also notes their implementation will determine their success.

In a release issued Friday, chamber president and CEO Deborah Yedlin said the group “welcomes the federal government’s announcement to commit to significant policy, regulatory and legislative reforms aimed at accelerating Canada’s ability to develop major projects.”

Yedlin called the reforms “an important step in ensuring major projects can be submitted, approved and built more quickly and with greater certainty.”

She said this complements “existing efforts to attract capital and advance development through the Canada Strong Fund, the Alberta-Ottawa MOU and the Major Projects Office.”

The feds propose giving authority to review interprovincial pipelines and transmission lines, and offshore renewable energy projects, to the Canada Energy Regulator instead of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

The changes also would allow cabinet to decide whether a pipeline project is in the public interest before the review process is completed.

Ottawa is also planning on creating a Crown consultation hub within the Impact Assessment Agency to better co-ordinate efforts with Indigenous communities and provinces.

It’s also looking to enact legislative changes to reduce review times for major projects down to one year.

That last point is one Calgary’s chamber is particularly happy to see.

“Specifically, we are encouraged by the government’s commitment to complete project reviews and provide decisions within one year, including the simultaneous review of impact assessments and permits, as well as the establishment of a single project authority,” Yedlin said.

“We also welcome the proposal to create federal economic zones ahead of project development to support transportation corridors, telecommunication networks, energy production and transmission and industrial regions.”

In Friday’s release, Yedlin said these measures “lay the groundwork to strengthen investment confidence, improve regulatory certainty and enhance Canada’s competitiveness.”

“We also applaud the proposed establishment of the Crown Consultation Hub to facilitate a single, co-ordinated consultation process for each project,” she said.

“However, to ensure that projects are developed with legitimacy, certainty and in a way that upholds reconciliation, it is essential that the full principles of free, prior and informed consent are respected.”

Yedlin said implementation of the reforms must be “smooth and effective” to be successful, and include “clear co-ordination across federal departments and processes.”

“Ultimately, it is in execution and delivery that the impact of these changes will be determined,” she said.

“We remain committed to working with government on these proposed reforms and look forward to the results they can deliver for productivity, competitiveness and national economic growth.”

With files by The Canadian Press