In Canada, a “project of national interest” is a project the federal government formally lists in Schedule 1 of the Building Canada Act. The Governor in Council makes that decision after considering five statutory factors. Listing streamlines specified federal regulatory decisions, but it does not erase project reviews, information requirements, conditions, or the Crown’s duty to consult Indigenous Peoples.
What makes a project national interest?
Section 5 of the Building Canada Act directs decision-makers to consider how far a proposed project can:
- Strengthen Canada’s autonomy, resilience, and security.
- Provide economic or other benefits to Canada.
- Have a high likelihood of successful execution.
- Advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples.
- Contribute to clean growth and Canada’s climate objectives.
The Act sets out factors to consider, not a single threshold or formula that automatically qualifies a project. The Major Projects Office (MPO) evaluates projects against the factors and informs its work through consultation with Indigenous Peoples, provinces and territories, and federal departments and agencies. Government of Canada: One Canadian Economy FAQ
How does formal designation work?
The federal government describes a process that moves from assessment and consultation to a decision by the Governor in Council. Its process graphic explains that the Governor in Council means the Governor General acting on Cabinet’s advice and recommendations. Government of Canada: project designation process
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- A project is submitted to the MPO, which conducts an initial review.
- Consultations take place with Indigenous Peoples, provinces and territories, and federal ministers.
- The minister recommends whether the project should be listed to the Governor in Council.
- A 30-day notice is published in the Canada Gazette, Part I.
- The Governor in Council decides by Order in Council. If listed, the project and its description are added to Schedule 1.
- Regulatory review and the development of project conditions follow.
For the exact legal status of a project, check Schedule 1 and the applicable Order in Council: an MPO assessment or a ministerial recommendation is not itself a listing.
What happens when a project is designated?
The government describes the Act as shifting the focus of regulatory review from “whether” a listed project should proceed to “how” it can proceed. Under the framework, specified federal approvals are deemed granted subject to conditions, and a consolidated conditions document can be enforced by responsible ministers and adapted as circumstances require. Government of Canada: One Canadian Economy FAQ Government of Canada: designation process graphic
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This is a streamlined way to make and manage certain federal decisions, not a blanket exemption from scrutiny. Proponents still provide information to federal agencies, including the Impact Assessment Agency; those reviews inform how the project proceeds. Requirements and conditions remain relevant after listing. Government of Canada: One Canadian Economy FAQ Order in Council 2026-0925
Consultation and Indigenous interests remain part of the process
Advancing Indigenous interests is one of the five statutory factors. Consultation is also required during designation and when project conditions are developed or amended. The Indigenous Advisory Council does not replace the Crown’s duty to consult. Government of Canada: One Canadian Economy FAQ Order in Council 2026-0925
How long does review take?
Government materials describe maximum review timelines of up to two years under the streamlined process, compared with a previous maximum of five years. These are stated process objectives, not a guarantee that every project will be completed within two years. Government of Canada: One Canadian Economy FAQ
Does an MPO referral mean the project is approved?
No. The MPO works with a wider portfolio of projects and strategies, and a project can be referred for further assessment or receive MPO support without being formally designated under the Act. The government FAQ distinguishes referral from designation. Government of Canada: One Canadian Economy FAQ Government of Canada: project information and FAQ
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| Question | Formal designation under the Act | MPO referral or support |
|---|---|---|
| Has Schedule 1 been amended for the project? | Yes: a listed project and description are added to Schedule 1. | Not necessarily; referral or support alone does not list a project. |
| Who makes the designation decision? | The Governor in Council, by Order in Council. | An MPO referral or support is not that statutory decision. |
| Do the Act’s conditional approvals apply? | Specified federal approvals are deemed granted subject to conditions. | Not by referral or support alone. |
| Do review, consultation, and conditions remain? | Yes. Information review, consultation, and conditions continue as applicable. | Referral or support does not establish the project’s statutory path or conditions. |
A dated example illustrates the distinction: a Transport Canada briefing modified June 19, 2026, said the High-Speed Rail project had not been designated under the Act at that time, even as the MPO and Transport Canada worked together on an advancement strategy. That statement describes status on that date, not a current status beyond it. Transport Canada briefing
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is a current example of a designated project?
Order in Council 2026-0925, dated October 1, 2026, added the West Coast Oil Pipeline project—also called Pacific Link in current government announcements—to Schedule 1. The order describes a proposed interprovincial pipeline with capacity of approximately 1 million barrels per day, from Bruderheim, Alberta, to a deepwater port near Delta, British Columbia. This is a proposed project description; it does not establish that the pipeline has been built or is operating. Order in Council 2026-0925 Government of Canada: project information and FAQ
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How to read the economic forecast attached to the example
The Order in Council’s explanatory note reports an ATB Economics and Studio.Energy forecast of a C$31.4 billion average annual real-GDP increase through 2035 and 112,000 average additional jobs, with a peak of 136,100 jobs. The estimate models an expansion of 1.5 million barrels per day of pipeline capacity, including a new west-coast pipeline, plus associated investment. The proposed pipeline accounts for approximately two-thirds of the modeled capacity expansion. These are forecasts for the broader capacity-and-investment scenario, not observed results or a forecast attributable to the pipeline alone. Order in Council 2026-0925
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