Designate Trans‑Canada Highway 11
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to designate Trans‑Canada Highway 11 under the Building Canada Act as a Project of National Interest to fund upgrades for traveller safety and reliable interprovincial freight. The government responds that the Act and Major Projects Office may streamline reviews but designation is discretionary.
Why we would sign this petition
- Would enable federal designation and targeted funding to upgrade Highway 11, potentially reducing accidents and improving traveller safety.
- Would support more reliable interprovincial goods movement by funding improvements that reduce delays and bolster economic stability along a national corridor.
- Could use the Building Canada Act and the Major Projects Office to streamline federal reviews, which may speed approvals and project delivery.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Designation could require substantial federal spending or reallocation of funds, creating budgetary trade‑offs with other priorities.
- Designation is discretionary and may not guarantee that the requested upgrades will occur or meet expected timelines.
- Accelerating reviews to speed projects could raise legitimate concerns about the adequacy of environmental assessment and Indigenous consultation unless safeguards are enforced.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada: We, the undersigned, call upon the Government of Canada to designate Trans-Canada Highway 11 as a Project of National Interest under the Building Canada Act. As a critical national corridor for economic stability and national security, Highway 11 requires upgrades to protect the safety of all travellers and ensure the reliable interprovincial movement of goods.
Government response
Response by the 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 Signed by Tim Louis The Building Canada Act enables the government to streamline federal approval processes to get major projects built faster. These projects will better connect our economy, diversify our industries, access new markets, and create high-paying careers, while protecting Canada’s rigorous environmental standards and upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Major Projects Office advances major projects in Canada and acts as a single window for project proponents into the federal regulatory process to simplify and accelerate project approvals. Working with provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples, and industry, the Major Projects Office evaluates projects that would offer the greatest benefits for Canadians. It provides advice on whether a project is of national significance, based on the five factors outlined in the Building Canada Act – including its contribution to Canada’s resilience, autonomy and security, economic benefits, contribution to Indigenous interests, and clean growth and Canada’s climate objectives, along with the likelihood of successful project execution. While the specific details of proposals received by the Major Projects Office cannot be disclosed, it is important to note that not all projects referred to the Major Projects Office will be designated under the Building Canada Act – it is one of the tools the Major Projects Office may recommend for a project, as appropriate, to streamline project reviews. The Government of Canada wishes to thank petitioners for their interest in the work of the Major Projects Office, and their advocacy related to transportation routes across Northern Ontario.