Summary#

• This bill creates two new laws. One aims to ease trade and worker mobility within Canada. The other sets a faster path to approve big projects that are in the national interest.
• It would treat goods, services, and some worker licenses that meet one province’s or territory’s rules as meeting comparable federal rules.
• It would let the federal cabinet label certain large projects as “national interest projects” and bundle federal approvals into one document with conditions.
• It adds public transparency, Indigenous consultation, and national security checks for these projects.
• Some normal federal review steps would be shortened or replaced, with guardrails for safety, security, and the environment.
• Parts of the law would be reviewed after five years.

Key changes

• Goods and services: If they meet a province’s or territory’s standards, they are treated as meeting comparable federal requirements for moving across provinces.
• Workers: If you hold a provincial or territorial authorization for an occupation, a comparable federal authorization must be issued to you.
• Overrides: If there is a conflict, these new trade and mobility rules would override other federal rules.
• National interest projects: Cabinet can add projects to a public list after 30 days’ notice and consultation; consent is needed if the project is only under provincial or territorial powers.
• Streamlined approvals: For listed projects, required federal determinations are deemed favourable. The minister must issue one document that sets all conditions and counts as the needed federal authorizations.
• Safeguards: Nuclear and energy regulators must confirm safety and security. Indigenous peoples must be consulted with a public report. All studies, conditions, and reasons must be published before approval. Projects must start within five years or approvals expire.
• Limits and oversight: Powers to add projects or make related regulations end after five years and can’t be used when Parliament is prorogued or dissolved. Annual independent reviews and public reports are required.

What it means for you#

• Workers and professionals

  • Easier to work across Canada if your job also needs a federal authorization. Your provincial or territorial authorization would be recognized, and a comparable federal one must be issued.
  • Less duplicate testing or paperwork to get federal recognition.

• Businesses selling across provinces

  • If your product or service meets rules in one province or territory, it would be treated as meeting comparable federal rules for moving it across Canada.
  • Less duplication of federal compliance steps tied to interprovincial trade.

• Consumers

  • Potential for more choice and lower costs if products and services can move more easily across provinces.

• Large project developers (energy, transport, corridors, Northern projects, etc.)

  • A faster, one-window federal process if your project is listed as in the national interest.
  • You must still meet requirements, pay fees, and follow conditions. All conditions will be public before approval.
  • You must start the project within five years or the authorization expires.

• Indigenous peoples

  • Required consultation with a process for active and meaningful participation.
  • A public report on consultations must be posted within 60 days of approval.

• Provinces and territories

  • The federal government must consult you before listing a project in your jurisdiction and obtain written consent if it falls in your exclusive powers.
  • Trade and mobility changes target federal barriers; provincial rules still apply.

• Environment and safety

  • Some early planning steps in the federal impact assessment process would not apply to listed projects, but an impact assessment is still required.
  • Nuclear and energy projects cannot be approved through this process unless safety and security are confirmed by the relevant regulators.
  • Project studies, recommendations, and reasons for decisions must be published.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Cuts red tape so goods, services, and workers can move more freely within Canada, helping the economy.
• Speeds up critical national projects, boosting jobs, growth, trade corridors, and energy security.
• Gives investors certainty through a clear, time-bound process and one federal authorization document.
• Maintains protections: independent safety checks for nuclear and energy, public conditions and studies, national security reviews, and required Indigenous consultation.
• Respects provincial roles by requiring consent for projects in areas that are only provincial or territorial.
• Adds accountability with annual independent reviews and public reporting.

Opponents' View#

• Centralizes power in cabinet and a minister, which could weaken the role of independent regulators and normal review steps.
• “Deeming” favourable federal determinations may lower environmental or safety scrutiny, even with conditions attached.
• Alters parts of the impact assessment process and could reduce early public participation, risking legal challenges.
• Treating provincial standards as “comparable” to federal ones may cause uneven protection or a “race to the bottom.”
• Indigenous consultation requirements may not equal consent, raising concerns about rights and project legitimacy.
• Transparency and new offices or registries may still leave gaps, and shifting rules could create confusion for businesses and regulators.