There is a new framework for moving federally regulated major projects from review to approval more quickly: The government introduced the Building Canada Act (BCA) as part of Bill C-5 and passed it into law on June 26, 2025. The BCA is intended to streamline federal approval processes for major projects considered to be in the national interest: At a high level, it’s about changing how the federal government approaches the review and approval of these projects.
To support our Indigenous clients in protecting their rights, interests, and territories and advancing the prosperity and well-being of their communities and citizens, we are sharing information about the BCA and its potential implications. Our goal is to assist clients in effectively participating in this new process so that they can realize stronger outcomes from that participation. Read on for more information!
The BCA establishes a framework for identifying and advancing projects that serve Canada’s broader national interests. To assess whether a project meets this threshold, the BCA outlines five factors that define the meaning of national interest:
One of the BCA’s key objectives is a more streamlined and coordinated federal approval process for designated major projects, with Canada making a decision to allow a project to proceed or not within one year of a project proponent’s submission of all relevant application and impact assessment information.
The focus of the BCA is to determine how—not whether — projects that Canada positions as being in the national interest can be built and under what conditions, by using a single process, rather than separate federal review and authorization processes, after an impact assessment approval.
Canada says that the BCA is part of its effort to get major projects of national interest built more quickly while advancing economic, security, climate, and Indigenous priorities. For projects designated under the BCA, federal decision-making and approvals will be coordinated under the new single-process framework.
Our greatest concern is that Indigenous Nations that are not ready for this change will be left behind, perpetuating the have/have-not dynamic between Indigenous Canada and the rest of the country, and among Indigenous Nations based on capacity and geography.
In the next parts of this series, we’ll be looking closely at how the new framework will roll out and how our clients can prepare to navigate the change, including:
Following the series, SVS will host a webinar to bring these topics together and provide an opportunity to discuss how your Nation can prepare. Stay tuned for details on how to sign up for the webinar.
If you need support, we are here to help! Contact us at info@sharedvaluesolutions.com / 226-706-8888 for more information. Read our recent blog posts to learn strategies for preparing your Nation:
Scott Mackay MSc, RPP
Partner and Senior Consultant
Learn more about Scott here.
Meaghan Luis, MSc Pl RPP
Learn more about Meaghan here.
Meghan Dalrymple, MA
Senior Environmental Impact Specialist
Learn more about Meghan here.
Mark MacDougall, MSc, CET, PMP
Senior Regulatory Specialist
Learn more about Mark here.