Ottawa Hasn’t Defined ‘National Interest’ Under Major Projects Law

Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy, responds during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 6, 2025. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

The federal government has not issued specific criteria to define the “national interest” under its new major projects law, despite calls from MPs to do so.

The Building Canada Act intends to select projects that are in the “national interest” for special treatment to get faster approvals, including being exempted from adhering to certain environmental laws.